Rwanda Massacre

* I find it astounding that the international community deems it an absolute moral imperative to quickly and vociferously condemn the deaths of 30 people in the aftermath of the tragic events of Hebron, and yet has virtually not responded to the horrendous massacre of over 20,000 people in fewer than five days of civil strife in Rwanda (April 13).

Is it because there is no mobilized Rwanda lobby or constituency here in America? Is it because there are more TV cameras in the Middle East than there are in the continent of Africa? Maybe, or most especially, it is because Rwanda is neither a geopolitical crossroads nor an economic hotbed or oil-producing nation. No one’s national interest (except that of the citizens of Rwanda) is served by international condemnation. Most probably, it is a combination of all of the above factors.

We let the war in Bosnia run far too long without any convincing intervention by the international community. Ironically, on the day that NATO airstrikes are finally taking place to try to stop the ethnic cleansing, forced rape and inhuman barbarism taking place in southern Europe, the same thing is happening, on an even larger scale, in Africa without international notice or moral outrage. Let us not allow ourselves to be further desensitized to the plight of the thousands of people who are now falling victim to yet another form of nationalist barbarism. Let us take notice, and let the world take action.

HEATHER HARRIS

Beverly Hills

* Welcome, American news media, to the horrors of Burundi and Rwanda. Where have you been for the last six months? Only the spectacular shoot-down/assassination of two African presidents (April 7) was enough to jolt you from your indolence.

The widely respected British journal the Economist reported a few weeks ago that at least 100,000 people in Burundi were killed between October and March. Yet until this month, the American news media have apparently deemed this story unworthy. What is your excuse in ignoring human suffering of such magnitude? Let me guess . . . more important stories? Maybe Bobbitt’s missing member? Nancy’s latest $10,000 skating outfit? Tonya’s cigarette brand?

The media’s fixation with tabloid trash and indifference to news of substance are very telling. They give credence to the claim that most news editors are concerned much more with ratings and agendas than actual news. Now that we see how you “dropped the ball” on Burundi and Rwanda, how long will it take you to begin properly reporting other newsworthy events such as an equal if not greater calamity occurring in Sudan?

J. STEVE SCHOELLERMAN

San Diego