Laura Hurlbut EDGEFinal EssayDecember 3, 2004 Subjective News Media in the Context of the Rwandan GenocideAmerican news media is not simply a means of communicating current events. Rather it is a tool used to manipulate information such that the end result is promotion of a specific ideology or perspective. Just like commercials sell products by playing into theviewers desires, so too does the news respond to and determine the viewer’s desired perception of self and nationhood. By deciding not only which stories to cover and which not too, as well as how to cover these stories, news media plays a fundamental rolein determining public responses to world events which in turn directly relates to public policy and foreign policy. In order to illustrate this relationship, it is helpful to look at specific examples of news coverage of some major events. I will specifically look at the United State’s response to the Rwandan genocide as well as the role played by news media in ensuring the success of America’s ambivalence. In this case, it was the choice to exclude stories and images from the news that was ultimately linked to our failure to act.Later in the essay, I will examine current news media and its slanted coverage of the war in Iraq. This will provide an interesting case study of the techniques used to package information into “best-selling” news stories. The rhetoric surrounding our involvement in Iraq constantly promotes our role as freedom fighter and agents ofdemocracy. This depiction is not only inaccurate but serves a direct purpose in selling our foreign policy to the mass public.QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressorare needed to see this picture.Unfortunately, the Rwandan genocide is an excellent example of the west’s abilityto manipulate and influence the information that is eventually relayed to the public. By examining the crisis in Rwanda and the lack of response from the international community, it become clear that misinformation is just the tip of the iceberg and that in reality, there is often intentional suppression of information as well as serious alteration of the facts. To fully understand the Rwandan genocide it is first relevant to discuss the country’s rocky colonial history that led up to it.The Hutu and Tutsi tribes have inhabited Rwanda for all of the countries known history. Without going into minute detail, there are differing theories about who camefirst and from where, but the bottom line is that for the purpose of understanding the genocide, the two ethnicities have always cohabited Rwanda. The group in power, however, has been subject to change throughout Rwanda’s history and these changes directly correlate with the country’s colonial history. During Belgian’s rule over Rwanda, the Tutsi minority was favored and employed in political elite through the police forces. The European attitude toward Rwanda even pre-Belgian rule was very pro-Tutsi. The Europeans believed that the Tutsi were ethnically superior to the Hutu, primarily because of their more slender, and essentially more European, features. Extensive studies were performed by European colonists in which measurements of the Tutsi features were recorded and examined. Although there are no pronounced physical differences between the two tribes, there were traits which seemed to be more commonly found in one ethnicity over the other. During and before Belgian rule, the Tutsi constituted Rwanda’s minority. Yet, they were a more powerful minority, known to be wealthier and hold positions of power in Rwanda’s monarchical state. Although a minority, the Tutsi essentially dominated the country’s majority, made up of Hutu. Yet, even with this division in power, there were always exceptions, especially of Tutsi who occupied the same status as many less powerful Hutu. Essentially, not all Tutsi were wealthy and educated, but most if not all Rwandans with wealth and education were Tutsi. The Hutu were oppressed by the Tutsi regime and denied many basic human rights such as education and any form of political voice. The Hutus tended to be poor and live in rural, underdeveloped areas within Rwanda. Despite these trends, there were no rigid racial lines and this is reflected in thefact that many Hutus and Tutsis intermarried and lived harmoniously within the same rural communities.Colonial rule placed a major strain on ethnic relations that had previously functioned smoothly. By reinforcing the Tutsi power structure and not only granting these rulers greater power but by repressing Hutu participation, a greater divide was created between the two ethnicities. This was further aggravated by the employment of Tutsi as agents of law enforcement over Hutus. The result was a corrupt ruling class determined by ethnicity and a power hungry majority who were continually experiencing denial of basic rights.In the early 1960’s Rwanda experienced a revolution which again drastically altered the status of ethnic relations within the country. The suppressed Hutu majority overthrew the Tutsi government and created its own Hutu dominated regime. The revolution was actually aided by the previously pro-Tutsi Belgians. This shift in policy can be explained by the expected role of Belgium within Rwanda which was that of an overseer of progress. Post World War One, Belgium was essentially assigned the duty of aiding Rwanda’s development and helping the country to eventually become a self-sustaining member of the international community. Consequently, despite its pro-Tutsi leanings, Belgium had no choice but to support the Hutu cause. As the Hutus constituted Rwanda’s majority, continued denial of their political voice would have essentially been adenial of democracy. This would have been greatly frowned upon by an international community that leaned heavily toward democratic ideals. The main driving force behind this revolution was not only to gain power but also to seek retribution for the years ofTutsi domination. Thus, one extreme form of rule was replaced by another, and the level of tension escalated dramatically.1QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressorare needed to see this picture.Under former Rwandan president Habyarimana, the Hutu extremists in power espoused racial division, specifically hatred toward the Tutsi minority. There were several instances of massacres against Tutsis, as well as moderate politicians who did not support the