Project Reflection
Project Description:
Our objective for the genocide project was to choose a genocide from past history, and study it. From there, we made two research sheets each, which basically summarized several sources, primary, secondary, etc. about the genocide. With our newly made study sheets, we made something called an “op-ed”. And op-ed allows the author to describe their views on something, like, in this case, on a genocide. The requirements given were that the op-eds had to be between 750 and 1000 words. Once the op-eds were created, we were also assigned an illustrative project; this being a political cartoon based on our views about the genocide. These will be mounted, along with our op-eds, on black poster board to be displayed in the halls of our school.
Cartoon Reflection:
It is evident that over the year, I have grown as a cartoonist, as I see now, looking at my Rwandan genocide political cartoon. I see a stick figure of Uncle Sam, and an obvious, yet not very creative, sense of symbolism given by the American flag and Rwandan flag. This helps provide evidence of growth when compared to my most recent cartoon about the Holodomor, because in this one, I am very creative in using separate tools to depict the communist flag. I addition, the figures I have created are not stick figures, but instead flow with detail.
Op-Ed Reflection:
In my op-ed, I used a lot of analysis in my writing, but this isn’t something I’ve done often in past writings. Therefore, this writing is fairly new to me, and I plan on using it in future assignments. Analysis will be useful for trying to get my point across in a more thoroughly clear manner. This might prove most useful in assignments that require a use of political view, definition of my understanding of the content, and simply projects that are based mainly off of analysis, like the op-ed I have created.
Our objective for the genocide project was to choose a genocide from past history, and study it. From there, we made two research sheets each, which basically summarized several sources, primary, secondary, etc. about the genocide. With our newly made study sheets, we made something called an “op-ed”. And op-ed allows the author to describe their views on something, like, in this case, on a genocide. The requirements given were that the op-eds had to be between 750 and 1000 words. Once the op-eds were created, we were also assigned an illustrative project; this being a political cartoon based on our views about the genocide. These will be mounted, along with our op-eds, on black poster board to be displayed in the halls of our school.
Cartoon Reflection:
It is evident that over the year, I have grown as a cartoonist, as I see now, looking at my Rwandan genocide political cartoon. I see a stick figure of Uncle Sam, and an obvious, yet not very creative, sense of symbolism given by the American flag and Rwandan flag. This helps provide evidence of growth when compared to my most recent cartoon about the Holodomor, because in this one, I am very creative in using separate tools to depict the communist flag. I addition, the figures I have created are not stick figures, but instead flow with detail.
Op-Ed Reflection:
In my op-ed, I used a lot of analysis in my writing, but this isn’t something I’ve done often in past writings. Therefore, this writing is fairly new to me, and I plan on using it in future assignments. Analysis will be useful for trying to get my point across in a more thoroughly clear manner. This might prove most useful in assignments that require a use of political view, definition of my understanding of the content, and simply projects that are based mainly off of analysis, like the op-ed I have created.
Op-Ed Final Draft: Mandatory Famine
The world stood idly by throughout a tragic happening in Ukraine and Russia. Originally, this “happening” was claimed to be a lack in agricultural planning. The Soviet government displayed an abundance of wicked intent while carrying out the Holodomor: a genocide that was no accident.
During the time of the Holodomor between the years 1932 and 1933, the civilians of Soviet Ukraine and Soviet Russia lived off of the same food and grain reserve, as “collectivization” was enforced throughout the Soviet Union. Collectivization refers to the replacement of peasant farms, including those in Ukraine, with farms controlled by the Soviet government. The original goal of these farms was to bring up more produce for urban trade. But Joseph Stalin, the Russian de facto leader of that time (meaning his leadership was not enforced by law, and his rule was therefore implemented informally), used it to plague the Ukrainian nation with famine. (Holodomor, 2013)
Many scholars to this day believe that the Holodomor was an accident, due to, possibly, poor economy at the time, and/or poor agricultural planning. However, since then many documents proving that the Holodomor was of Soviet intent have been declassified from the Secret Services of Ukraine (SBU)’s archives. (Futey, 2009)
Trials were held by the Ukrainian parliament that declared the Holodomor genocide, as well as found Stalin guilty and responsible for the planning behind it. Unfortunately, Stalin had died years before (Holodomor, 2013).
We have seen more than once in the past, as the world stands by, while one group of people falls victim to another group’s wrath. However, during the Holodomor, the world did not choose not to intervene. They were simply rejected by the Soviet government after having tried to aid Ukraine with offerings of grain and other food types. Soldiers were placed in perimeter formations in order to keep the peasants from reaching another source of food outside of their country. It appeared as though the Soviet Union made extensive attempts at starving the peasant population. (Causes, 2013)
That had looked a little odd to me at first. When you see a nation in famine, and all attempts to aid that nation are cut off by another dominant nation, you should know that something isn’t right. Well, as later discoveries had proven, of course, something wasn’t right. The USSR had failed to harvest the majority of grain that year, and prohibited food to the peasant and worker population.
Soon after the Holodomor had started, Ukrainian peasants were referred to as “Kulaks”. This term actually meant “rich peasant”, which may seem contradictory to the point the perpetrators were trying to make with name-calling, but it was right on target. This name, in accordance with propaganda fed to Russian and Ukrainian workers (including propaganda movies about how peasants were hiding grain and potatoes while workers famished) actually made the workers’ population feel no sympathy for the peasants, so, they spared less food to the peasants when they saw them starving. (Kuropas)
So why was the Soviet government allowing such a task as genocide to sweep the nations? While some scholars believe this was an accident, most understand that the point of the genocide was to prevent uprisings from the peasantry population, as well as to perform an attack on Ukrainian nationalism. (Causes)
Despite the fact that food was fully illegalized in Ukraine during the time of the Holodomor, most of the suffering peasants were unaware that the famine they were experiencing was actually man-made. In this belief, they tried to hold onto their food, and that was confiscated from them by youth Communist groups (Komsomol) and USSR soldiers. Even when a peasant was caught with food in the street, they were shot and killed. (Brazhnyk, 2009)
Of the few survivors of the Holodomor was a Ukrainian girl named Aleksandra Brazhnyk. Aleksandra lived as a Ukrainian peasant girl during the time of the Holodomor. In an interview, she describes life during the Holodomor in a way that truly, and thoroughly, portrays what it was like. Her family had hidden their grain in large pots in an oven. One day, despite the mother’s and children’s’ cries, members of the Komsomol confiscated all of their food. Her sister’s 3 children had all died, famished, as a result of the Holodomor. Brazhnyk describes, in addition, how government officials fed the citizens propaganda, leaving the peasants with no factual knowledge of what was happening to them. Aleksandra states, “I don’t know what they thought, but nobody expressed their thoughts then, because everyone was so scared. People were afraid to say anything to one another.” (Brazhnyk, 2009)
The USSR leadership, post genocide, stated deliberately reduced numbers of the estimated dead victims (USSR leadership made a great effort in keeping all state communications classified), and when the bodies were re-counted by foreign nations’ officials, a staggeringly higher number was found than expected. Today, the total amount of dead from the Holodomor isn’t very accurate or exact, ranging from an estimated 1.8 to 7.5 million people. (Holodomor, 2013)
So, given the evidence, such as the wrong number of dead given by the Soviet government, their attempt to cover up the Holodomor, and the illegalization of food, it is at least fair to say that the Holodomor was, in fact, intentional on the Soviet government’s, and Stalin’s, part.
After having studied the Holodomor, and gained a deep understanding of the events that took place, I believe that as a world, it is our obligation to prevent future genocide. This means stepping in as a nation despite our relations with the victim group of genocide. The evidence provided makes it clear that the perpetrators of any given genocide, especially with the consideration of the Holodomor, had deceitful plots organized before implementing the genocide, and must be recognized as a threat against a group of people. In addition, these perpetrators must, in the future, be dealt with before an imminent genocide takes place, in order for our world to thrive as a whole in equality.
Works Cited
"Holodomor." Wikipedia.com. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 31 Jan.
2013.
Futey, Bohdan A. "Holodomor Documents." Holodomor Documents. Intelex, 2009.
Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
"Causes of the Holodomor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 June 2013. Web.
11 Feb. 2013.
Brazhnyk, Aleksandra. "Aleksandra Brazhnyk (nee Skrypnyk)." Interview.
Holodomor Survivors Tell Their Stories. Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. <http://www.holodomorsurvivors.ca/Video/video/Files/Aleksandra%20Brazhnyk_video.html>.
Kuropas, Myron B. "The Ukrainian Genocide/Holodomor 1932-1933." Ukraine Famine
Comission, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. <http://cis.uchicago.edu/sites/cis.uchicago.edu/files/resources/100113-ukraine-holodomor-curriculum.pdf>.
"Causes of the Holodomor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Jan. 2013. Web.
28 Jan. 2013.
During the time of the Holodomor between the years 1932 and 1933, the civilians of Soviet Ukraine and Soviet Russia lived off of the same food and grain reserve, as “collectivization” was enforced throughout the Soviet Union. Collectivization refers to the replacement of peasant farms, including those in Ukraine, with farms controlled by the Soviet government. The original goal of these farms was to bring up more produce for urban trade. But Joseph Stalin, the Russian de facto leader of that time (meaning his leadership was not enforced by law, and his rule was therefore implemented informally), used it to plague the Ukrainian nation with famine. (Holodomor, 2013)
Many scholars to this day believe that the Holodomor was an accident, due to, possibly, poor economy at the time, and/or poor agricultural planning. However, since then many documents proving that the Holodomor was of Soviet intent have been declassified from the Secret Services of Ukraine (SBU)’s archives. (Futey, 2009)
Trials were held by the Ukrainian parliament that declared the Holodomor genocide, as well as found Stalin guilty and responsible for the planning behind it. Unfortunately, Stalin had died years before (Holodomor, 2013).
We have seen more than once in the past, as the world stands by, while one group of people falls victim to another group’s wrath. However, during the Holodomor, the world did not choose not to intervene. They were simply rejected by the Soviet government after having tried to aid Ukraine with offerings of grain and other food types. Soldiers were placed in perimeter formations in order to keep the peasants from reaching another source of food outside of their country. It appeared as though the Soviet Union made extensive attempts at starving the peasant population. (Causes, 2013)
That had looked a little odd to me at first. When you see a nation in famine, and all attempts to aid that nation are cut off by another dominant nation, you should know that something isn’t right. Well, as later discoveries had proven, of course, something wasn’t right. The USSR had failed to harvest the majority of grain that year, and prohibited food to the peasant and worker population.
Soon after the Holodomor had started, Ukrainian peasants were referred to as “Kulaks”. This term actually meant “rich peasant”, which may seem contradictory to the point the perpetrators were trying to make with name-calling, but it was right on target. This name, in accordance with propaganda fed to Russian and Ukrainian workers (including propaganda movies about how peasants were hiding grain and potatoes while workers famished) actually made the workers’ population feel no sympathy for the peasants, so, they spared less food to the peasants when they saw them starving. (Kuropas)
So why was the Soviet government allowing such a task as genocide to sweep the nations? While some scholars believe this was an accident, most understand that the point of the genocide was to prevent uprisings from the peasantry population, as well as to perform an attack on Ukrainian nationalism. (Causes)
Despite the fact that food was fully illegalized in Ukraine during the time of the Holodomor, most of the suffering peasants were unaware that the famine they were experiencing was actually man-made. In this belief, they tried to hold onto their food, and that was confiscated from them by youth Communist groups (Komsomol) and USSR soldiers. Even when a peasant was caught with food in the street, they were shot and killed. (Brazhnyk, 2009)
Of the few survivors of the Holodomor was a Ukrainian girl named Aleksandra Brazhnyk. Aleksandra lived as a Ukrainian peasant girl during the time of the Holodomor. In an interview, she describes life during the Holodomor in a way that truly, and thoroughly, portrays what it was like. Her family had hidden their grain in large pots in an oven. One day, despite the mother’s and children’s’ cries, members of the Komsomol confiscated all of their food. Her sister’s 3 children had all died, famished, as a result of the Holodomor. Brazhnyk describes, in addition, how government officials fed the citizens propaganda, leaving the peasants with no factual knowledge of what was happening to them. Aleksandra states, “I don’t know what they thought, but nobody expressed their thoughts then, because everyone was so scared. People were afraid to say anything to one another.” (Brazhnyk, 2009)
The USSR leadership, post genocide, stated deliberately reduced numbers of the estimated dead victims (USSR leadership made a great effort in keeping all state communications classified), and when the bodies were re-counted by foreign nations’ officials, a staggeringly higher number was found than expected. Today, the total amount of dead from the Holodomor isn’t very accurate or exact, ranging from an estimated 1.8 to 7.5 million people. (Holodomor, 2013)
So, given the evidence, such as the wrong number of dead given by the Soviet government, their attempt to cover up the Holodomor, and the illegalization of food, it is at least fair to say that the Holodomor was, in fact, intentional on the Soviet government’s, and Stalin’s, part.
After having studied the Holodomor, and gained a deep understanding of the events that took place, I believe that as a world, it is our obligation to prevent future genocide. This means stepping in as a nation despite our relations with the victim group of genocide. The evidence provided makes it clear that the perpetrators of any given genocide, especially with the consideration of the Holodomor, had deceitful plots organized before implementing the genocide, and must be recognized as a threat against a group of people. In addition, these perpetrators must, in the future, be dealt with before an imminent genocide takes place, in order for our world to thrive as a whole in equality.
Works Cited
"Holodomor." Wikipedia.com. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 31 Jan.
2013.
Futey, Bohdan A. "Holodomor Documents." Holodomor Documents. Intelex, 2009.
Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
"Causes of the Holodomor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 June 2013. Web.
11 Feb. 2013.
Brazhnyk, Aleksandra. "Aleksandra Brazhnyk (nee Skrypnyk)." Interview.
Holodomor Survivors Tell Their Stories. Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. <http://www.holodomorsurvivors.ca/Video/video/Files/Aleksandra%20Brazhnyk_video.html>.
Kuropas, Myron B. "The Ukrainian Genocide/Holodomor 1932-1933." Ukraine Famine
Comission, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. <http://cis.uchicago.edu/sites/cis.uchicago.edu/files/resources/100113-ukraine-holodomor-curriculum.pdf>.
"Causes of the Holodomor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Jan. 2013. Web.
28 Jan. 2013.
