Friday, December 11, 2009

Rwandan Genocide Debate

I had already had some opinions on what each group did during the genocide and I thought I knew what they were going to say. AS the debate went on I learned that I was wrong about knowing what they were going to say, and I also learned that I had made some pretty false accusations of who was to blame.
I thought that the Rwandan Armed Forces had been good the whole time, because they pretty much stayed out of it. At the beginning of all this, I thought that the Tutsies were the ones that rebelled and were killing everyone, but little did I know, it was the Hutus. The RPF and the Interhamwe were the real culprits. I learned some other things that changed my mind on groups. I thought the UN had no idea what so ever about what was going on. They obviously had some clue, and the just didn’t want another Somalia situation to happen again. Some of my opinions stayed the same though. Paul Kigame and the President that got shot down are examples of groups that I had a consistant opinion on.
This debate helped me better understand the Rwandan Genocide, and I’m glad we had it, cause if we didn’t, I’d probably not understand a lot of things and still have false information in my mind.

Christmas


Okay, I lied. Now that its Christmas time, I’m realizing that this is actually my favorite time of year. Not autumn. Although I do love that season, the weather and the feeling, Christmas is my favorite time of year, and my favorite holiday. Next year around October I’ll probably feel like Halloween and autumn are the best, but for now I’m all Christmas.
Although I absolutely despise snow, I’m overjoyed to say that it’s almost Christmas. This is the first year I didn’t have a Christmas list that was at least a page long. First it’s because I got a lot pickier this year, and second it’s not as fun now that I know the truth about Santa. I sometimes wish that I had a little brother or sister that still believed in Santa Clause so I could go along with the whole idea. But don’t doubt that I still absolutely love Christmas, Santa or not.
What I truly love about this time of year is the atmosphere, the music, the story behind it, the presents (of course), and being with my family. I like coming home on the last day of school before break, drinking hot chocolate, waking up on Christmas morning, sleeping in, and eating as many candy canes as possible. Although I can’t stand walking through the cold snow and having it seep into my shoes and pants, it is good for at least one thing. Sledding. And I can’t lie, the snow is actually really pretty and it does add the Christmas feeling. Snow days are good too. I don’t like being cold very much either, but it’s the price you have to pay for such a good holiday season. Sitting by a fire, wrapped in a blanket, watching ABC Family’s Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas has to be the best thing I’ve ever experienced. Getting presents is good too, but what I really like is going out and getting presents for my family and friends. I think it’s fun to go and pick out a different ceramic cow for my sister (this year it was a wizard cow) and going to pick out incense for my friend Bridget.
It might come as a surprise but I don’t really like Christmas day. I think the anticipation for it all is more fun than getting it over with. I enjoy the day, don’t get me wrong, I just hate knowing that this is it. After that, Christmas is over. No more Christmas movies, no more candy canes, the Christmas tree is taken down, the ornaments and lights are put away and it’s over, but for now, I can’t wait.