AUK Students Speak Out Against Political Violence

Read the following Huffpost article  From Victim to Victor: The Healing Power of Forgiveness in Rwanda Reflect on the following quote "Hate, like many other vices, is a learned behavior — it is a choice, a bad choice, but a choice nonetheless. And yet, I believe — I know — that forgiveness works the same way. I have experienced the power of forgiveness in my life — and I have seen it work its healing power in Rwanda today." What the role of forgiveness in the healing process of post genocide/ political violence. How does it help people rebuild their lives? What are the challenges and drawbacks of relying on forgiveness as a tool for getting past the hate? Use concrete examples from your experiences in Kuwait as well as the case studies we reviewed in class.

Explain the conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda as discussed by Phillip Gourevitch. What lessons do we learn from the Rwanda genocide case? How would you apply those lessons to maintaining peaceful relations and preventing future conflicts from erupting in Kuwait?

How are we indifferent to the suffering of the 'other' in Kuwait? Imagine your self in the position of an oppressed "other" in Kuwait and consider what treatment this group would give to your actual social class or category if power differentials should change. Explain why, and indicate the steps to improve that relationship. 

Drawing from Raphael Lemkin's work and our in-class discussion on the "techniques of genocide involving a coordinated attack on elements of nationhood," discuss how vulnerable populations in Kuwait may experience a process reflective of being "primed" to become targets of violence. Consider the following elements: political, social, cultural, economic, biological, physical, religious, moral.

Apply the basic questions of genocide to Kuwait, as discussed in exercise one. What categories of people you believe are most vulnerable to collective acts of violence and why? What can be done to prevent such violence from happening and/or protects vulnerable populations? As future leaders in your respective fields outline a plan that promotes peaceful resolutions.