Through the movie "Hotel Rwanda", I could see the enormous conflict between the Tutsis and the Hutus. I could also notice the huge role that media played during the genocide as well as the fact that this world can sometimes be extremely ignorant.
"The plane with the president of Rwanda has been shot down. My good Hutus, it is time to wipe out the cockroaches! Cut the tall trees, cut the tall trees now!"
That was the code that meant for the Hutus to begin wiping out the Tutsis. As the trigger went off and the Tutsis were being rounded up, Hotel Rwanda showed how the world was so ignorant and so unwilling to intervene without the genocide. As I saw the Americans, French, Italian, Belgium, and other Northern and European countries scooping only their people out of danger, I felt so embarrassed and ashamed. When Rwanda needed help from more powerful countries, they turned their backs on Rwanda. Instead of putting an effort into maintaining world peace, the European countries were doing everything they could to move their citizens out of Rwanda. It was shocking and despairing to see the instant change in attitude of the other countries.
Although people over the world were aware of the mass killings,they had not taken it to be a serious issue. Also, their response to not intervene was that the conflict was between African-American people. Therefore, they did not feel the need to help the small country called Rwanda in Africa. The United States had tried to avoid intervening by trying not to use the word genocide. If they did, then they would have no choice but to join the war. Instead of fighting, they chose to act blind and closed their eyes. How can this world survive if countries are not helping each other when they are in trouble? The small country that needs to be protected should be protected. Everything is connected and this world lives in one place, on Earth. I feel that we should be ready and be available to help countries when they are in need.
2008년 4월 21일 월요일
2008년 4월 20일 일요일
Reflection on Rwanda
Over the next 100 days starting from April 6 1994, the world experienced the fastest rate of killings in the twentieth century. On the first day the genocide began, there was an estimate of 8,000 as the death toll. From that day, the U.S. decides to evacuate all the U.S. citizens, followed by the European countries. I felt ashamed when I realized that those countries were scooping only their people out of danger. They were not making any attempts in trying to stop the killings. On the 28th, there is an estimated death toll of 168,000 and the press asks State Department spokeswoman Christine Shelly if she thinks that genocide is occurring. She avoids using the word 'genocide' by saying "…we have to undertake a very careful study before we can make a final kind of determination…." I was shocked when I read this. The media was trying to go around the word 'genocide' because it caused a concern. If they used it, the U.S. would have to intervene with the killings in Rwanda. Not only the United States, but the whole world was trying to turn back on Rwanda and pretend that the genocide was just another African war.
Although journalists were reporting of what was occurring in Rwanda, there might have been a bigger impact on the world if General Dallaire could have expressed his viewpoints in media. In the interview with Mark Doyle, he says if people such as the General or other politicians and soldiers who were directly involved had stood up and had been reported, it could have made a difference. However, I feel that it might not have been entirely true. In the movie there was a part where the General said to the main character Paul, that all the other countries had abandoned him and Rwanda because he was black. Mark Doyle also expressed that the reason why the outside world had not intervened with the genocide was because it was about Africans. I feel ashamed that one of the reasons that world had been ignorant was because the genocide had been concerning Africans.
After watching part of the movie, reading interviews and looking at timelines, I realized how media is used not only creates different opinions but can lead to horrifying consequences. It helped me think about the media we are encountering everyday in our lives and be aware of my surroundings.
Although journalists were reporting of what was occurring in Rwanda, there might have been a bigger impact on the world if General Dallaire could have expressed his viewpoints in media. In the interview with Mark Doyle, he says if people such as the General or other politicians and soldiers who were directly involved had stood up and had been reported, it could have made a difference. However, I feel that it might not have been entirely true. In the movie there was a part where the General said to the main character Paul, that all the other countries had abandoned him and Rwanda because he was black. Mark Doyle also expressed that the reason why the outside world had not intervened with the genocide was because it was about Africans. I feel ashamed that one of the reasons that world had been ignorant was because the genocide had been concerning Africans.
After watching part of the movie, reading interviews and looking at timelines, I realized how media is used not only creates different opinions but can lead to horrifying consequences. It helped me think about the media we are encountering everyday in our lives and be aware of my surroundings.
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