It was a small victory, but a victory all the same. The widespread indignation was because a French publishing house had touched a raw nerve. Larousse has been in existence for over 100 years and is best known for its dictionaries and encyclopaedias and other reference books. Despite being a publishing house of repute, it made a huge blunder when it misrepresented the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as a civil war between the Hutu and the Tutsi. There were several reasons that raised the dust; the first was that the offence took place in France, a country that is well-known as being a haven for Genocide deniers. There was always the possibility that the “error” was deliberate. But thankfully, Larousse has now swallowed humble pie and agreed to rectify the matter in its next edition. That particular publication was meant for children aged between 7 and 11, a very dangerous age bracket for brain washing. Damage done at that stage is difficult to rectify. Those not familiar with the story of the Genocide against the Tutsi and the importance of calling it so might think the whole name thing was simply a fuss. But there have been many attempts to reverse its history by turning victims into executioners. Some have even attempted to peddle the “double Genocide” theory to water down the facts. There is need to remain vigilant to keep abreast – if not ahead – of deniers who are always looking for ways to sanitise what they stand for.
