In Phase III of our investigation, we examine the genocide in Rwanda. These are our questions about the Rwandan genocide:
How did the narrator initially get involved in documenting the complexities of the Rwandan genocide?
Why did so many Tutsis simply comply with the Hutus' requests and walk right to their deaths when they were told to gather at certain churches and hospitals?
If the Hutus had the majority and had been granted total political power, why did they still find it necessary to exterminate the Tutsis?
Why was the division so deep between Hutus and Tutsis when there had already been so much intermarriage that they couldn't truly be distinguished anyway?
How can this kind of "ethnic" conflict be prevented in the future?
On page 35 the author refers to the media coverage tied to the Bosnian genocide in its aftermath. Why was that not better preserved in history and why isn't it being taught in schools? How much did the way that situation was resolved play into the actions of those responsible for the Rwandan genocide?
-Emily Longman
Why does the narrator choose to start where he does with this memoir?
Why was the obedience to authority such a big part of this culture and society? Was there something in the past, historically, that prompted this way of thinking?
Why does the narrator choose to explain the countryside and different aspects of Rwanda before going into details about the social groups and the genocide?
There are a lot of Biblical references; what is the significance of these connections?
-Evelyn Yee
What is the reason for the Tutsi minority to be seen as an inferior race? How would killing them solve the country's problems?
The author mentions mobs of people attacking, were there any accidents in killing the wrong people when these mobs attacked?
Did the killers have remorse for their actions? Did dismembering bodies so violently result in psychological damage?
If the Tutsi's knew that the Hutu's were training to kill them, why did they stay in the country? Did they take safety precaution?
Religion seems to be a big part of the Rwandan culture, how did this effect the genocide? How was religion used to justify their actions?
~Shannon Manzella
What is the narrator's personal connection to this genocide, and how did he become so involved?
How did outside forces become so influential in the ethnic battle in this country, when there hadn't seemed to be any serious conflicts in this area beforehand?
How do the Rwandans view the genocide now, and how is the power distributed among the people today?
What was the involvement of the Adventist church, and what in this denomination and religion could be used to promote such violence?
How do commemorative rituals and mourning rituals vary among communities and customs?
-Sierra Pool
Why were the Tutsi people so submissive? What made them accept the discrimination they were facing?
What caused the sudden visible distinction between the Hutu and the Tutsi? In other words, what happened that suddenly caused these labels to matter?
What role do the pygmies play in the genocide if at all? Did they fight with the Hutu or die with the Tutsi?
What were the roles of the women from both ethnic groups during this genocide?
How were children of mixed marriages distinguished during the genocide? Was it based on visible features alone or proper documentation? Did one matter more than the other?
~Jen Pintoy
Why did Belgium switch from supporting the Tutsis to the Hutus?
If there was so much intermarriage and everyone looked so similar, how were the Hutus able to determine who the Tutsis were, especially at the rate they were killing?
How are there so many Adventist churches in Rwanda if Belgium brought Roman Catholicism?
Why was nothing done to intervene after the first signs of genocide in the 60s?
Why did Belgium face no repercussions for their part in instigating the genocide?
-Jeremy Hartman
- What were the demographic, environmental, and economic factors that may have contributed to the genocide?
- What was the essence of the "Hutu Power" ideology advanced by extremists within the Rwandan regime?
- The visualization of Pastor Ntaki’s success prompted a bitter response from me in regards to the handling of crimes after genocide. With that being said, how successful have post-genocide efforts at justice and reconciliation been in Rwanda?
- How did religion play a role in this genocide? The book brings up great examples of churches being the sight of massacres, and multiple pastors being involved in the killings. How can a man of faith, and a respected leader of a community allow his morals to be as corrupted as needed in order to allow the mass murder of their flock? With that, how has religion been affected since the genocide, seeing as many turned to the church for help in their time of distress only to be killed in the place that was thought to be a safe haven. Has this fact remained vivid in the memories of the Tutsis, or Rwanda in general, and if so is the country as religious as they appeared to be before the genocide?
- The book discusses the media coverage differences between the Rwandan and Bosnian genocides. How does media coverage affect the genocide as a whole, does it speed up the process or simply act as an image for the rest of the world to connect to their imagination of the genocide? Along with this, how does substantial media coverage or lack thereof, affect genocide victims? Do they feel heard and have hope if the media is paying attention, or does it simply put salt in their wounds when the realization occurs that the world is only watching, not reacting?
- How was the propaganda spread before and during the genocide? Also, how can ethnic lines be drawn between two “ethnicities” that intermixed generations before the genocide began?
- Who is really to blame for this genocide? The Belgians that instigated the ethnic lines? The leadership for perpetuating the propaganda? Or the civilians that carried out the killing? How is this decision made in any genocide? How dies obedience to authority play into this decision? Perhaps the Milgram experiment provides an excellent example to support the actions of the civilians, but what of the leadership?
- Why were the Tutsi's so willing to concede to their fate in this genocide? Why not leave the country when preparations began for their mass killing?
- Did the manner by which the Hutus killed the Tutsis (physically beating them to death, or dismembering bodies tirelessly) lead to more blame for their actions than if they had simply gassed or killed with guns? What are the psychological affects of killing this way, especially for those forced to kill for fear of their own lives? - --- Otyllia Abraham
-Why did status play a major role in Rwanda's genocide? Did the status stratification simply stem from physical and socioeconomic differences? Was there greatly underlying issues from Rwanda's past between the Hutus and Tutsis driving the genocide?
-With the early publicity in Rwanda, why did the genocide occur without interference? It sounds like Rwanda's genocide began years before 1994 with many foreshadowing massacres, why did the UN not put a stop to the violence in Rwanda sooner?
-Is Rwanda considered one of the most "successful" genocides by definitions to date?
-How long before the killings began did the Hutus prepare for their genocide against the Tutsis? Did the Rwandan genocide begin as quickly as the other genocides that we studied?
- Other than verbal orders, what other types of propaganda succeeded in the Rwandan genocide?
- Why did manipulation by trusted leaders occur more frequently during the Rwandan genocide? What role(s) does manipulation play in genocides? Did pastors and mayors lead the massacres, or did other civilians step up as leaders?
- How does denial by perpetrators affect genocide victims? The author details Dr. Ntaki's denial as accusations to impede his success? In what other ways, do genocide perpetrators deny their actions?
-How does its genocide in 1994 continue to affect Rwanda today?
-What occurs mentally for victims of genocide to accept death as inevitable? Why did Tutsis in Rwanda accept the fate without "putting up a fight" to save themselves? Did the Tutsis eventually fight against the Hutus to stop the genocide?
Danielle Howard
-Why hadn’t the word genocide been used before the Rwandan genocide?
-On page 23, the Tutsis are described as having known of their fate long before the horrific acts of murder and violence were carried out. If they knew in advance, why did they not flee?
-Two years after the genocide, the violence still continued. What differentiated the violence that occurred during the genocide from the violence after it?
-Why did the arrest of Pastor Ntakirutimana go unnoticed by the American press?
-Have ethnic minority cards been used in other countries?
-How were the Twa viewed? Which side were they on?
-What were some of the nine-percent quota rules?
-What provoked the author to write such an investigative account of the Rwandan genocide?
-Emily Butler
How was Burundi involved in this genocide?
How did Uganda react to all the refugees?
Why did this genocide receive such little national attention?
Was this more about class than race?
Is the motive for this genocide based on past grudges once again?
What leaders started this genocide?
How is the relationship between the Hutus and Tutsis in the present day?
Justin Rink
How did Uganda react to all the refugees?
Why did this genocide receive such little national attention?
Was this more about class than race?
Is the motive for this genocide based on past grudges once again?
What leaders started this genocide?
How is the relationship between the Hutus and Tutsis in the present day?
Justin Rink