Lecture 4: Reactions to "Ghosts of Rwanda"

Although I've seen Ghosts of Rwanda four or five times now, viewing it yesterday during Lecture 4 Aggression didn't seem to get any easier or any more comfortable. And it doesn't seem to get any easier to write about.

So, my hat's off to those who have already started blogging their reactions.

I suspect we experience our own mini-psychological trauma when exposed to this kind of story and footage about human brutality on a mass social scale. I go through a kind of mini-depression for a few days after engaging in details of what happened. But I also believe that by going into some of the most difficult topics in psychology, we can emerge with a richer understanding and stronger capability for achieving more desirable outcomes.

However, I don't think we should move too lightly over our emotional reactions. They need processing - this might be a private or shared process. And then gradually as we emerge, we can explore how the events can be understood at least from a social psychological perspective.

There is more background information on the film's website (Ghosts of Rwanda), including the full transcript (thanks kelg85). There is also a lot of documentation from various sources and perspectives about the Rwandan genocide the broader societal conflict and issues (e.g.,The Rwandan Conflict: Origin, Development, Exit Strategies). Not much of this material is from social psychological perspective per se, and little seems to be by Rwandans themselves (perhaps an indication of the cultural shock and decimation). Nevertheless, books such as the following are recommended if you want to delve further:

• Dallaire, R., & Power, S. (2004). Shake hands with the devil: The failure of humanity in Rwanda. Carrol & Graf.
  
• Gourevitch, P. (1999). We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families: Stories from Rwanda. Picador.
• Straus, S. (2006). The order of genocide: Race, power, and war in Rwanda. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
• For more suggestions, see
  
• Rwandan 1994 Genocide (UCSpace)
  
• Bibliography of the Rwandan Genocide (Wikipedia)
  

We should also pay attention to what has been taking place since and is going on now in terms of building peace and reconciliation. We can't change the past, but we can influence the present and the future. Since 1994, there has been a huge and ongoing effort not just towards rebuilding society, but even towards creating a new society which is a model for other cultures in conflict, e.g.,

• Gacaca Courts (based on principles of restorative justice)
• Ingando Solidarity Camps
  
• Evaluation of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC)
• Outward Bound Rwanda
  
• Looking for more suggestions!