Reflection on Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda made me more aware of the power of media, how it can be used to control one’s mind. In Hotel Rwanda, Hutus used the radio station to announce false information about Tutsis. Hutus often referred Tutsis as cockroaches influencing the audience to believe that Tutsis are trying to take over Hutus’ power. The Hutus became more aggressive and built more hatred towards Tutsis. Such conflict led two ethnic groups in one country to fight each other. Not only was I shocked at how much media affected people’s minds but also was amazed at other countries’ response to Rwanda’s genocide. I realized that no one can know who to trust when it comes to war.
As European soldiers such as those from Belgium and France left from Rwanda, my heart sank in despair. How was it possible for soldiers who had weapons in their hands to leave Rwandans in a threatening, hopeless place? I clearly understood the soldiers’ duty to follow general’s orders, but I strongly disagreed on the soldiers’ decision to leave the country without solving a bloody, traumatic problem. After I saw United Nations pulling out of Milles Collines, I questioned the definition of United Nations. Isn’t U.N. supposed to keep “world” peace? Or simply, does “world” not include small country in Africa, Rwanda? I felt ashamed to be part of America. I thought America is supposed reach out to other countries and help them as much as it can; however, I found out the truth about America. America can be ignorant.

Rwanda Reflection

For one hundred days, thousands of people wished they would live another day. The genocide that occurred in April of 1994 left people in shock and misery as the death toll came to be 800,000. How is it possible for such a massacre to happen that instant? Everyday, about 10,000 confused people died. What would I have done if I were one of the people observing this chaos? My first response would be like Reporter Fergal Keane’s, terrified then, ignorant. I would have told myself, there’s nothing I can do to stop this conflict. I mean, I’m just one person. I became speechless when I read Mark Doyle’s interview. How can other countries be so ignorant towards Rwanda? The West, Belgium, France, and Italy, just came in to save their people out of Rwanda and left. They did nothing but to make the issue more complicated for United Nation. Are we enemies? Is it wrong to help each other when one is in need of support? I was ashamed of the world. I couldn’t believe the world let this bloody tragedy to happen. If all the sources in media collaborated together to announce the matter, then we could’ve saved more lives. The Hutus were successful telling bad things about Tutsis through radio. If everybody in America had their radio or television on, we could have influenced people to get involved in this massacre and try to help. After watching the movie, reading the articles, and reviewing interviews, I got more engaged in the events happening around me. I was inspired to look through the organizations that help to make difference in the world.