I have just finished watching Sometimes in April it's a movie that describes the conflicts between the Tutsis and the Hutus. All this week I have been deciding on what to write about and after watching this emotionally moving movie it seemed like writing about the Rwanda genocide seemed perfect. The two neighboring tribes of Rwanda, Africa the Tutsis and the Hutus were killing each other in constant bloodshed. They shared the same religion, language, and they all looked the same. I just found it unbelievable that these two tribes couldn't find peace considering the many things they shared and had in common. They had lived in peace in the past, why did the conflicts arise later on? The Hutus accused the Tutsi people for the death of their two presidents, even though there was no proof to prove so. The Hutu military killed innocent civilians that had any origin of Tutsi in their blood. Later the Tutsi's gained power and got back at the Hutus. In estimate their was nearly five-hundred thousand people killed in a one-hundred day period. The Rwandan massacre caused so much sorrow and grief, the innocent Hutu people had been begging The United Nations for help that never came. This is something that is rarely spoken of, but it is a major problem in my eyes. The United Nations found this conflict insignificant. Could it be because these people are so poor or the geographical location where these people lived.
Who decides why the people living in poverty can't receive help?
What gives the United Nations the right to decide who receives help and who does not. Why is it that the most poverty stricken nations are always the last to receive help, or when help does arrive it is usually to late.
Once The United Nations and The Navy stepped in they were able to defuse the situation and take out the Commanding General the motivator of this evil, in one fell swoop... I ask myself was it really necessary for five-hundred thousand people to die within that hundred day span, when all it took was one elite group of navy seals to bring this conflict to an end. This is a major point that I would like to highlight from this movie that is truly tragic. It is our responsibility as a globally informed nation to keep watch and voice our concerns regarding any acts of this kind. That is why I ask that you all please keep in mind that this is still a very real and present issue that is plaguing many impoverished countries. Please check out this website so you can be informed. Genocide is a process not a event: http://www.genocidewatch.org/
Current Places on Genocide Watch:
Darfur Burma
Sudan Kenya
Somalia
Ethiopia
Chad
Zimbabwe
The things you write about show that you have a lot of heart, and that you are a global citizen. I'm proud of you for not just POINTING OUT (or complaining about) the injustices we see happening around us, but for asking questions and helping other people get better informed.
ReplyDeleteI've read some about the Rwandan genocide...I'm no expert, but here are two explanations I can try to pass on. They are probably both true, and mixed/interacted in unpredictable ways to create the tragedy of 1994.
1: Rwanda's colonial history under Belgian rule led to the genocide. For this explanation, try:
http://www.amazon.com/Wish-Inform-Tomorrow-Killed-Families/dp/0312243359/
(I've lost my copy of this book, but it's in the AHS library.)
2: The collapse of Rwanda's land base under extreme population pressure led to the genocide. For this explantion, try chapter 10 of:
http://www.amazon.com/Collapse-Societies-Choose-Succeed-Revised/dp/0143117009/
(If you want to read this, I've got a copy at home and will bring it in for you.)