A Failure to Act - Rwanda
We are watching the movie Sometimes is April. This post is a bit different in that you will respond to questions based upon what you have seen in class. You can simply answer in same number format that is presented here if that is easier for you.
The genocide in Rwanda left many hundreds of thousands of Tutsi and moderate Hutu's dead. The reasons why genocide happens is complicated and confusing. Based upon what we watched so far in class, please respond to the following:
1. How did the radical Hutu's incite racist, genocidal actions among their followers (Give multiple examples)?
2. Augustine's wife points out that the new extreme govt. has published a decree that all Hutu soldiers cannot marry anyone other that a Hutu. What connection does this have to the presentation on Causes of Genocide based upon the work of Stanton?
3. Why is control of the Radio Station so important to the Hutu movement, and how is this related to the information from Stanton?
3. Why is control of the Radio Station so important to the Hutu movement, and how is this related to the information from Stanton?
Radical Hutu's bred racism and genocidal actions among their followers in many horrible ways. They first do this by calling all Tutsi's "cockroaches". This immediately gives the Hutus power over the Tutsis because it makes Tutsis seem inferior and not human because they are compared to an annoying bug that is associated with dirty, disgusting places. It also justifies killing them because no one thinks twice about exterminating a nest of cockroaches. Secondly, radical Hutus separate Hutus from Tutsis by marking what nationality a person is on their identification card. This allows Tutsis to be discriminated against easier because a person does not have to even ask what nationality someone else is, all they have to do is demand to see an id card and if it reads "Tutsi" they can ban them from doing things or going places .When the new extreme government published that Hutu soldiers cannot marry a Tutsi the near genocide is in the fifth step out of eight known as polarization. In polarization hate groups, such as the radical Hutus, distribute propaganda against a certain group (Tutsi) and laws are made that forbid interaction between the two groups. By no longer allowing a Hutu and a Tutsi to marry the groups are pulled even farther apart and genocide becomes neigh. The control of the radio station is so important to the Hutu movement because it is a quick and effective means of communication. Without it in the hands of the public information of what is truly happening cannot be released with ease or speed. With the radio station in the hands of the radical Hutus propaganda against Tutsis can be released nonstop and the world and the rest of the country will not find out about what is happening.
ReplyDeleteThe Hutus made everyone carry identity cards, saying if they were Hutu or Tutsi. This made it easier for Hutus to point out Tutsis and dehumanize them. Tutsis were also dehumanized when they were referred to as cockroaches.
ReplyDeleteThe banning of any Hutu to marry a Tutsi falls under the 5th stage of genocide, polarization. Polarization drives groups apart from each other, separating them. This made it easier for Hutus to identify Tutsi families.
The control of the radio station is important to the Hutu movement because it quickly spreads propaganda across the whole country. It is related to the 3rd stage of genocide, dehumanization.
1. The radical Hutus made the people in Kigali carry identification cards, separating the Hutu people from the Tutsis. Along with separating them, they called Tutsis "cockroaches" thus, enticing others to view them as inferior people.
ReplyDelete2. In terms of Stanton's fifth stage of genocide, polarization, the Tutsi are isolated as a group. By banning Hutu people from marrying Tutsi people, the radical Hutus are making it so that Tutsi people stay among their people and that the Hutus as a whole can become more superior than the Tutsi. Additionally, if the Tutsi are isolated into one group, it makes it much easier for the extermination of that group.
3. The control of the radio station is a vital asset to the Hutu movement because it spreads the Hutu's views to the rest of the country. With that, it makes it much easier for other Hutus to hear word of the movement and join in on it. It's related to the 3rd, 4th, and 6th stages of genocide, according to Stanton.
-the hutus used many of the tactics we learned about in class to begin to separate the two different classes. one of the tactics they used was symbolism, similar to the star of david that the jews were forced to wear in the concetration camps, the hutus forced everyone to cary I.D. cards that said whether they were hutu or tutsi. This was the first attempt to begin separating the two castes. another way that the two castes were seperated was by dehuminization, the tutsis were called "cockroaches" both in person and over the radio as a form of propoganda. The more that people hear this the more they start to believe it and the more seperated the two castes will become.
ReplyDelete-polarization: this law drives the groups even farther apart than they already are, the 4 previous steps of genocide have already driven the groups apart and created tention and polarizaton reinforces the beliefs of the two groups and begins to convince the undecided population that genocide is the only option. polarization splits the group even more and once this stage is reached, the beliefs of the groups are set in stone and genocide is hard to stop.
-the radio is a huge help the the hutus, it is used for communication but more importantly propoganda, it spreads hate and the ideals of the hutus which spawns more hate and believers. the radio allows hutus to hear whats going on with the movement and allows them to get involved. the radio also helps in the begining stages of genocide by dehuminizing the tutsis. its a very necessary tool in the steps to genocide.
1. The radical Hutu's had multiple ways of inciting racsit and genocidal actions. They used the radio and word of mouth to spread the term "cockroaches" as a way to refer to the Tutsi, dehumanizing them. Also, they forced the carrying of I.D. cards to distinguish between Hutus and Tutsi. They collected information and used lists and I.D. cards to separate out Tutsi and Moderate Hutus so they could dehumanize and kill them. Followers were led to believe from the radicals that the Tutsi were dangerous and evil and had to be killed.
ReplyDelete2. When comparing to the Eight Stages that can lead to genocide, a decree that says Hutu soldiers cannot marry anyone other than a Hutu falls under the stage of polarization. During this stage, it is common for laws to be created that forbid relations between different groups, in this case the Hutus and Tutsi. The groups are driven further apart and anyone who sympathizes with Tutsi, such as someone who is Hutu and has a Tutsi family,are attacked.
3. The control of the radio is very important to the Hutu movement. They are able to spread hate and propaganda through the radio to all of their followers. This creates anger and dehumanization of the Tutsi, as they are openly referred to as cockroaches. The use of radio connects to multiple stages of genocide, mostly dehumanization and polarization.
1: The radical Hutus incited racism by calling the Tutsis "cockroaches". They are associating the Tutsis with vermin. This is the 3rd of Stanton's stages of genocide; Dehumanization. Everyone is also required to carry an ID card stating whether they are a Hutu or a Tutsi. This is the 1st stage; Classification.
ReplyDelete2: Forbidding any two groups of people to marry is part of stage 5, Polarization. This is the stage where it is harder to stop the progression towards genocide.
3: Controlling a radio station and spreading propaganda is also part of stage 5, Polarization. Hate propaganda is easier to spread to any side. It gets followers motivated to take part.
1. The radical Hutu's incited racist, genocidal actions among their followers by discriminating against anyone who was of Tutsi descent. The Hutu's acted on the third stage of genocide by calling the Tutsi's "cockroaches." This was the beginning of dehumanizing a specific group of people, causing hutu followers to believe Tutsi's were nothing. The radical Hutu's forced everyone to carry an identification card so that Hutu's could be distinguished from Tutsi's. Radical Hutu's went to everyone's house to check these cards and if anybody was suspected of being a Tutsi, they were killed immediately.
ReplyDelete2. The law that Hutu's and Tutsi's cannot marry is part of the fifth stage of causes to genocide, polarization. This stage is basically about separating one group from another. Augustine realizes that he can get himself killed now because his wife is a Tutsi even though he is not. The radical Hutu's will kill anyone who sides against the actions being taken toward the Tutsi's.
3. The control of the radio station is important to the Hutu movement because through this technology, radical Hutu ideas can easily be spread. I think control of the radio station relates to all causes of genocide because thoughts for each step can be heard over the radio.
1. One thing that the Hutus required was that everyone must carry an identification card that stated if you were a Hutu of a Tutsi. This made it very easy for the Hutus to identify the Tutsis thus connecting with the second stage of Genocide symbolization. Another thing that the Hutus did was the referred to the Tutsis as cockroaches. This connects the third stage of Genocide dehumanization because the Tutsis are being referred to as an insect thus stripping them of their human rights.
ReplyDelete2. Not allowing intermarriage connects with the 5th stage of Genocide polarization. During stage 5 of the 8 stages of Genocide the two groups are driven even farther apart. The two groups are not allowed to intermarry or even socially interact with one another. In addition anyone who sides with the group that is being targeted becomes a target themself.
3. Radio station was so important to the Hutu movement because almost everyone during that time listened to the radio. The Hutus are able so spread propaganda and hate to the majority of people quickly. This coincides with the 5th stage of Genocide (Polarization). On the radio the Tutsi are commonly referred to as cockroaches on the radio. This is the 3rd stage of Genocide (dehumanization) because the Tutsis are being equated with insects. All in all the radio is an easy way for Hutus to spread their ideas to the majority of people quickly and efficiently.
1. They made everyone carry identification card which said whether they were Tutsi or Hutu, this made it easier for the Hustus to know who was Hutu and who was Tutsi. this is an example of symbolism. Hutus also referred to the Tustsis as cockroaches. they did this to make them seem less like humans.
ReplyDelete2. The rule that says a Hutu cannot marry a Tutsi is an example of polarization because they are trying to make it so the Tutsis are no long part of the majority. The government is supporting the genocide by creating new rules and laws.
3. control of the radio station is important to the Hutus because it allows them say what they want and followers only hear what the Hutus want them to hear. Therefore Hutus can spread the hate that they feel toward Tutsis and they hope followers will start to see there side or believe what they are saying. It is the start of dehumanization and organization.
1. The Hutu's incited violence because they killed their leader and blamed it on the other group. This made the Hutu's mad and want to kill more people.
ReplyDelete2. Not allowing the 2 groups marry one another. Polorazation stage 5 Also anyone who sides with the certain group that is being targeted becomes a target
3. It is very important for the Hutu's to control the radio station for proprganda purposes. More people can hear the radio and that can help encourage them to go kill the other group.
There were numerous examples of when the Hutu’s incited racist and genocidal actions among their followers. The Hutus demoralized the Tutsis by calling them cockroaches which made killing the Tutsis seam less extreme. When people are referred to as cockroaches it is easier to justify killing them. Another example of the Hutus demoralizing the Tutsis is when they distribute identification cards which denote whether the person is Tutsi or Hutu.
ReplyDeleteThe law that bans Hutu from marrying Tutsi is the 5th stage of genocide, polarization. By polarizing, further separating the two groups, it makes it easier to distinguish who’s Tutsi and who’s Hutu. This is very similar to the Nuremberg acts. In Germany something very similar happened between the Jews and the Germans. Under the Nuremberg acts Germans were not allowed to marry Jews, very similar to what happened between the Tutsi and Hutu.
Rwanda is not a very technologically advanced country, and so control over the radio is a huge factor. In a country which most citizens don’t have televisions or access to the internet the radio is the main source of news and communication. If the Hutus control the radio they can both leave the Tutsis in the dark and better communicate with their fellow Hutus. According to the Stanton this relates to stages 3,4, and 6.
-The hutus and tutsi's were forced to carry ID cards which made it easier to identify who was who and was one of the first steps in separating the people.
ReplyDelete-The fact that they couldn't marry each other shows one of the later steps in separating people, where eventually hutu's would be married to hutu's and tutsi's would be married to tutsi's. Because of this when one group is completely wiped out, it won't make as much of a difference.
-The radio station having control over the people is a huge advantage because of the influential propaganda.When the people have a constant voice in their ear telling them one thing, after a while they'll start to believe it. Also if this is all the people are hearing, they'll start to think that this is what everyone thinks and start to act this way to go along with the norm.
1.) The radical Hutu's incited genocidal actions through the use of radio, proceeding on with their killings of the Tutsi and moderate Hutu's, the use of identification card which made the separation process very easy.
ReplyDelete2.) This portrays the idea of separation among them. Insisting on separating them further more. Just like it had happened during the Holocaust when the Germans were not allowed to marry a Jew. Basically this just continues on the idea of separating a certain group and being able to recognize them more easily.
3.) The whole idea of the use of the radio really shows a way of identifying people and then telling everyone else through radio of that missing person or so on. It's just another way of scaring the people(Tutsi) and letting them know that they'll come and get them. The Hutu's want their idea up and out there through the use of the radio.
I. the radical hutu's incited many negative actions amongst the tutsi's by forcing them to carry I.D. cards with them at all times so whenever an official wanted to check them they were able to and depending on their nationality the officials could do with them whatever they wanted. this is showing the first step of genocide which is classification by separating them by where they are from. the hutu's also utilized radio and television ad's to create a dislike towards the Tutsi's as a way of getting more people agitated towards them.
ReplyDeleteII. this shows that they are trying to classify and separate the citizens. by doing this they are creating a more extreme form of classification by not allowing someone to marry someone that they love merely by where they are from or their religion. also by doing this it is acting as a way to destroy the "enemy group" by not allowing intermarrying.
III. the use and control of the radio sations is very important. by having full control and access of the radio they can easily spread their ideas all around and gain lots of followers and supporters who agree with their idea even if it is not the most logical idea out there
1. First and foremost the Hutu's created broadcasts spouting hateful propaganda towards the Tutsi and moderate Hutu, following that with printed copies of the "Hutu's 10 Commandments". Then they forced ID cards upon the Tutsi's, allowing radicals to identify them easily and take violent action.
ReplyDelete2. Though I did not see the presentation, I can only assume that it relates to the steps of Genocide, including classification and separation. By decreeing that people of a specific race, religion, or political stance may not be allowed the same rights as another, it separates them and begins the process of dehumanizing them.
3. The radio provides a quick, easy way to get many many listeners hear their views and contemplate them. Even if logically their views do not appeal to someone, hearing that propaganda for prolonged periods of time might convince them that that view point is common place, and that THEY should follow the view point as well.
1. Everyone was forced to carry identity cards with them to identify whether they were hutus or tutsis which seperated them. Also tutsis were dehumanized when they were referred to as cockroaches.
ReplyDelete2. Banning hutus from marrying anyone else other than a hutu falls aunder the 5th stage of genocide which is polarization. Polarization drives groups apart from each other, seperating them. This made it a lot easier for hutus to identify the tutsi families.
3. The radio provided a quick and easy way to spread the word about the hatred towards the tutsis. The propaganda was quickly spread across the whole country through the radio. This is related to the 3rd stage of genocide which is dehumanization.
1. The Hutu's used many different methods in order to incite genocidal actions. Some examples were the hate radio broadcasts, identification cards and using dehumanizing slang such as calling the Tutsi's cockroaches. This caused separation and hate between the Hutu's and Tutsi's which are two of the most basic problems that can lead to genocide.
ReplyDelete2. By making a law that states that Hutu soldiers cannot marry Tutsi women this further separates the two groups. This also shows that the government has now shown support in the genocidal acts that are taking place in Rwanda. When these acts reach this stage of hatred it is almost impossible to reverse the genocidal actions taking place.
3. The radio played a very important role in the genocide in Rwanda. It was able to spread the hate message to many more people. It also acted as a form of organization for the Hutu radicals as people would call in to the radio with reports of where Tutsi's were hiding. It also instilled a lot of fear in people that may have been Hutu moderates but now fear for their lives if they are caught helping the Tutsi's. In addition, the main radio station in the movie is a national radio station that is controlled by the government, which add legitimacy to the hate message because it is being endorsed by the government and is not just a group of radicals. It became a nationwide problem very fast because of the radio broadcasting.
1. The radical Hutu's forced racist genocidal acts on their followers by forcing everyone to carry identity cards so they could tell if they were Tutsi or Hutu. Also the Hutu's would belittle the Tutsi's by calling them cockroaches and names like that. Also the Hutu's broadcasted hateful messages on the radio about the Tutsi's.
ReplyDelete2. This decree connects to the polarization stage of genocide. The Hutu's wanted to isolate the Tutsi's as a whole so it would be easier to exterminate them.
3. The RTLM Radio was important to the Hutu's because it spread the hateful messages to the group. Also it help pin point people to kill by announcing their names over the radio. This relates to the 3rd, 4th, and 6th stages of genocide.