Rwandan Genocide

I felt the debate was successful and I actually enjoyed it. The way the debate was organized helped the debate to run slowly because only one person talked at a time. When groups had to “yield” the floor to others, it helped the debate not to get out of hand. Most of the groups had an opportunity to talk, except some more than others. Everybody did a good job bringing all of the groups into the conversation. All of the groups seemed to be well prepared with their questions for the other groups, as well as their introductions. I felt each group did a good job defending themselves. Out of all the introductions, the most interesting one had to be Romeo Dailare.

Before this project, I had no idea about the Genocide and this big issue in Rwanda. I learned about Rwanda's culture, the Hutus, and the Tutsis. Before I could understand my role, I had to do some research. I had to understand what the Rwandan Genocide was overall. Once I did this, I found out my assigned person, which was Paul Kagame’s role in the genocide. Paul Kagame led the Tutsi group called the Rwandan Patriotic Front, otherwise known as the RPF.

I believe that most of the blaming went to the Interhamwe, a Hutu powered group, and Juvenal Habayrmana. They deserved the blame because they were the ones who went around and killed innocent Tutsi's. A radio station was created by Juvenal, which influenced the people to do the killing and 'brain-washed" them. Whenever someone questioned the Interhamwe, they kept repeating that it was Juevenal's fault. While Juvenal was president of Rwanda from 1973 until 1994, he favored his ethnic group, the Hutus.

Many groups questioned the United States as to why they didn't step in and help. However, if they didn't want to be involved in the genocide, than that is their decision. If anyone was to be accused of not stepping in and helping, it should be Romeo Dailare. At one point, one group blamed the Red Cross, which I did not see a point to it. The Red Cross did nothing to be blamed for the start of the Rwandan Genocide. The role of the Red Cross in our debate was to “question and blame” other groups, which they did. Overall, I think the debate came out positive, and it was a great learning experience.

The American Scholar

Emerson's argument in the "American Scholar" about man still holds true today.

One reason Emerson's argument still holds true today is people become their "type of label." Emerson describes a person as their type of job. He wrote, "The planter who is Man sent out into the field to gather food, is seldom cheered by an idea of the true dignity of his ministry. He sees his bushel and his cart, and nothing beyond, and sinks into the farmer, instead of the man on the farm." This means that man is becoming his job or label of the farmer, and the same is happening in today's society.

Another reason is that one type of "typical man," in which Emerson talks about, is capable of more than one thing. Like I described before, man is capable of more than one label. Everyone must perform together for a functioning society. Emerson's argument still holds true today because people rely on others, especially in the work industry. If everyone performs their type of job, they can accomplish many tasks. However, people are capable of more, and this is what Emerson describes.