December 21st, 2011: Syria - Genocide or Not?

The protests in Syria appears to be getting worse and worse as the days pass, and hundreds of Syrians continue to perish. The violence is horrendous, but many wonder: is this a genocide? In my opinion, the answer is no. The definition of genocide is: "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group." This conflict is no struggle between ethnicities or religion; this issue is only a political conflict, and the legal definition of genocide excludes political groups. Despite the violence not fitting the definition of genocide, the conflict still isn't a genocide, since the president of Syria isn't trying to exterminate all Syrians or any ethnic or religious group for that matter; this struggle only shows how a president desperate to stay in power can have the guts to kill his own people to keep that power. I feel this conflict is more of a civil war, since Syrians are fighting against their own government.

December 19th, 2011: Rwanda - Who's Guilty?

Responsibility for the Rwandan Genocide can't really be put all on only one person: everyone is responsible for what happened in Rwanda. The Hutus and Tutsis are definitely to blame for the massacres of the Tutsis, and the Tutsis are responsible as well, even though they were the targets (due to them oppressing the Hutus for so many years prior). Belgium, King Leopold (King of Belgium) especially, is definitely to blame for the genocide; even though they were never part of the actual massacres, they are responsible for the very first steps of the genocide, as they favored the Tutsis and organized the discrimination and oppression of the Hutus.
The US government and the United Nations are definitely to blame. Because of their "lack of interest in Rwanda" and fear of armed conflict, both decided not to intervene and possibly save the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. It almost seems as if the US and the UN are allowing the Hutus to get away with genocide. Therefore, both the US and UN are to blame, if not have the most blame. The Rwandan genocide, like many other genocides, comes with responsibility, and when it comes to this genocide, everyone's guilty.

December 2nd, 2011: The Holocaust - Who's Guilty?

After watching the movie "Defiance" and seeing how the US responded to the Holocaust, I now think that everyone was responsible in some way or another, regardless of whether they were involved or not. I really think the US is somewhat responsible for the murder of so many Jews; perhaps if they would have publicized the Holocaust via the media earlier, maybe the liberation of camps may have happened earlier, and maybe so many lives would have been saved. I also think every single Nazi soldier, collaborator, and German Nazi supporter or follower is responsible as well, but in varying amounts. I do believe Hitler and the Nazis themselves are the most responsible for coming to power and spreading Nazi beliefs to all of Germany, and as a result intensifying antisemitism to violence and death. Sure, the German citizens, not the soldiers, didn't necessarily kill any Jews, but they are also responsible for they supported the killing of Jews and every other race that wasn't German. The Jews, homosexuals, Roma, and every other target may not have suffered the violence and death in their hands, but they are also responsible for it -- they did it.

December 1st, 2011: "Defiance" Entry #3

During one scene in the movie "Defiance", the Jewish partisans catch a Nazi SS scout spying on their camp. The partisans attack the scout and beat him to death, while Tuvia just watches in awe. If I were the editor of "Defiance", I wouldn't change this scene at all; I would leave this scene just the way it is. This scene just amazes me how before, Tuvia would break up any and all fights between the partisans; but since this fight is between the partisans and a Nazi scout, he doesn't do anything. He simply stands back and watches. This scene shows how bitter the partisans are towards the Nazis for kiling their friends and family; Tuvia will prohibit fights between the partisans, but will allow violence towards Nazi soldiers.

November 30th, 2011: "Defiance" Entry #2

In order to survive, the Jewish partisans resorted to guerrilla tactics, such as stealing food and items from Germans and ambushes. Based on the current environment, these actions are justifiable. Because the group is in a war setting, they appear to live in an every-man-for-himself situation where they acknowledge that although they seem safe they are in constant danger and have no time to fully rest. The group is desperate to keep Jewish ancestry alive, which is what the Nazis don't want, so they resort to stealing from commoners and killing them to stay alive. This method of survival appears to be effective, as we used the same tactics to win the Revolutionary War against Britain.

November 29th 2011: "Defiance" Entry #1

During the first part of the movie, Zus and Truvia set up camp with about twenty other Russian-Jewish refugees in the middle of the forest. The group of Russian Jews avenged the deaths of their family and friends by killing the German SS soldiers (and their collaborators) that did so. In addition, they stole small items such as cigarettes, beer, and other supplies necessary to stay alive.


These actions aren't justifiable or not. It's somewhat inbetween. Imagine this: your country's in a huge war, and the people of your specific group are victims of mass murder. All of your family and friends are killed, you have nowhere to go, and you're in danger 24/7. I personally see no part of this situation where you wouldn't go completely insane and thirst for revenge.Truvia and every single Jewish refugee have no other choice but every man for himself. Each of them know that they are all in constant danger and never have time to fully rest.


However, there's always a point where the actions become way too much. In wartime, it's every man for himself, but there's really no need to act like animals even though they may be hunted down by the SS like animals. There's no need to start turning against your own people.

November 21st, 2011: Photo Comparison

November 22nd, 2011: USAF Museum

While viewing the Holocaust exhibit at the USAFM, I noticed a ton of examples of dehumanization and classification. The examples of dehumanization made the Jewish people of Germany feel less like humans and more like animals or objects. For example, Felix Weil mentioned that when he was a child, he would go to summer camp, and because he was Jewish, other German children would throw stones at him and call him a "dirty Jew". Also, he mentioned that segretation against Jews was made legal: Jews couldn't own automoiles, bicycles, and they couldn't go to public outings, sports events, theaters, and other pubic affairs. On the outside of stores or houses, there were signs that read "NO DOGS OR JEWS ALLOWED" or "JEWISH LAWYER, GERMANS, GO TO GERMAN LAWYERS!" Classification was made clear, forcing Jews to wear yellow stars that said "JUDE" (Jew) so they could be identified publicly. These examples are examples of dehumanization, as they made the Jewish people of Germany feel less like humans; they felt more like objects, especially as their prison numbers were tattoed on their arms.

November 18th-21st: Rome Before the War / Then-and-Now Photo Analysis

CITY: ROME, ITALY

About 12,000 Jews resided in Rome, Italy before German occupation took place. Life in Rome for the Jewish population was okay, although they were aware of the horrors that were to be committed by the Germans. Before September 1943, Germans were planning to have Rome's Jews deported, beginning in October 1943, when Jews from all of Rome were seized by German SS and eventually shipped to death camps, especially Auschwitz-Birkenau.
However, only 1,800 of Rome's Jews were deported. over 10,000 of Rome's Jews survived.

PHOTO ANALYSIS

 

(circa. 1940: Jewish children play in the courtyard.)

(circa 1999: three-year-old Hannah plays outside.)

While browsing through the boxes of family photos and photo albums, I would look at a photo of me as a child playing and almost immediately think of the images of Jewish children playing. I noticed some major similarities, since both the Jewish children and my family both basically lived our/their lives in happiness with almost no fear of being targeted. In all honesty, I really think Jewish people's daily lives weren't good or bad: they were somewhat in between. Before German occupation, daily life for them was just like daily life for us: there were families, they went to work, children played, etc. However, I don't think Jewish daily life was THAT great: Jews had been persecuted for a while prior to WWII, so the Holocaust almost seems like nothing new.



Daily Prep: November 16th, 2011

Before studying the Armenian Genocide, I had no idea Armenians even existed. After studying the Armenian Genocide, I now know exactly how and why genocide occurs.


The eight stages of genocide are as follows: Classification, Symbolization, Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization, Preparation, Extermination, and Denial. The Armenian Genocide is a great example of these stages: the Turks exterminated a million Armenians and still to this day deny that such a genocide happened, which means no justice for the one million Armenians that perished during the genocide. I now know that genocide occurs when a group of people, whether it be ethnicity or religion, is exterminated or partially exterminated due to government's feelings of superiority or prejudice.
My views on genocide haven't changed much. I still strongly dislike the idea of genocide and I feel it should just go die and fall off the face of the earth. Although my views are still subject to change as we've gone throught only one main genocide, I'm still against the idea of genocide and mass murder of a group.

iWitness Activity: November 14th, 2011

Kristine Hagopian (born 1906 in Izmir) was an Armenian woman who grew up living in constant terror and fear. At just ten years old, Kristine was first subjected to the mad and macabre events of the Armenian Genocide. She may appear to be elderly in the image, but based on the sorrowful expression on her face, she knows first hand the horrors of genocide and the destructive effects of not only a group of people, but of individuals themselves.
When Kristine was about ten years old, she and her family were first persecuted and deported to Der-Zor, far from her home; however, a family friend soon had them freed. Shortly after this event, Turkish soldiers broke into her house and brutally raped her father; Kristine and her mother were forced to watch the horror as her defenseless father was raped. Kristine's father killed himself soon after.
Kristine most likely feels bitter resentment towards Turkish people. For example, the image of her shows a sorrowful and bitter expression on her face. In this image, she could be having a flashback or remembering the image of seeing her father dead, hanging by a noose. Secondly, her story specifically highlights her feelings towards the Turks: "They are dirty the Turks.. very dirty...".
I would imagine this horrific experience has affected Kristine, mentally. I don't know how I personally would be able to live with myself if I ever went through the horror that she did; I think Kristine may be having suicidal thoughts or may have even attempted suicide like her father. However, maybe she's stronger than she looks; maybe she's able to move on and move past the horrors she endured.

Kristine leaves one question unanswered: Was any violence inflicted upon yourself?

Classification/Symbolization

The first two stages of genocide are classification and symbolization. Both are very major stages in genocide, but they aren't necessarily a major issue in general.
Whether or not they are an issue really depends on how they're used. For example, the swastika, prior to WWII, was a positive symbol that meant good luck. However, during and after WWII, the swastika meant this negative idea of prejudice, hatred, and destruction. If a person in the US sees a swastika today, he or she immediately sees the idea of the Holocaust and pure hatred and prejudice. However, in India today, the positive idea of good luck is still represented by the swastika.

What Causes Genocide?

I have heard the term "genocide" only a few times in my life. When I think of the word genocide, I instantly think of mass murder and the Holocaust. I think genocide starts when people believe that getting rid of certain groups of people is the only "sane" or "pure" way to live.


I have a few questions regarding genocide: I recall that the Holocaust was a major genocide targeted at "unfit" groups of people, such as Jews and disabled people. Is hate and prejudice a factor in the causes of genocide? When I think of genocide, I think there must be a reason to kill masses of people; why would people kill people for no reason at all? Also, has genocide become obsolete, or is genocide still prevalent today?

Howdy.