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