Primary Source

Primary source

This connects to the political aspect of the Bosnian Genocide because this was the actual piece that ended all major conflicts between the Serbians and the Bosnians. In a genocide, there are many different political aspects that relate to corrupt governments in a conflict. Throughout the whole genocide, no one had helped the Bosnians fight back against the Serbians, because there wasn't enough evidence to classify it as a genocide. But they did have knowledge that there were bombings in Sarajevo. After some time had passed, the United States became more educated on what was going on and decided to do something about it. After several weeks of killings, the United States had issued a peace treaty between Bosnia and Serbia, thus leading to the end of the genocide.

Creative Response

Journal

I never wanted to do these horrid things. It was against my morals, my ideals. But I couldn't deny my rulers. I was told to follow instructions or else pay the consequences. A sniper rifle was shoved into my chest a week ago by a man that I have never seen before, and haven't seen since. I was not taught how to shoot, or how to even hold the gun. The man said that this is going to be my best friend for a while. I only looked at it with disgust and hatred. Just as I look at myself, for performing these horrible crimes. I had my own station on the side of a mountain where I could sit and have a good look over Sarajevo. My job was to shoot on sight, and it took me by surprise. I am not a killer. Most of the people here are not. We are told by our leaders what to do and when to do it. They are the ones who the blood of the innocent falls onto, not us.

If I could speak out against our corrupt government I would. But I can't because then my life, as well as my families life would be at risk. So I just sit at my station. I look through the scope of my gun at all of the people running scared. All of the people looking for any source of food or water that they can find. I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I were one of them. Having to go out and get water and food for my family would be dangerous, but I would do anything for them. I try not to think about it because it makes me hate what we are doing even more. I know that I am being supervised, being watched by my authorities. So I have to kill. I scrape the number of kills everyday with a rock that I found one day near my post. I try and keep the death toll to one a day, but when I am being watched, I have to do more.

Once a day something amazing happens. A man sits in the middle of an open street, and plays a beautiful tune. It comes from his cello. Everyone up here on the hills stops, everyone listens, everyone forgets about what is going on around them. Because of him, I am taken out of a painful existence by the sound. Its the best part of my whole day because I know that he is going to be there. It gives me something to look forward to. I wonder if the people down in Sarajevo stop and listen just as I do? If they can hear the beauty in his music in all the bloodshed? I hope they can.

Picture Analysis

Men were captured and placed behind barbed wire fences. They were starved and put through harsh conditions that made their quality of life next to nothing. In this picture, you can see how emaciated the man in front is. This picture defines the living conditions of the Bosnian Muslims in the Bosnian Genocide.

Creative Response

A bullet is just a bullet

until it fires.

It becomes a life sucking hole

drowning in fear.

It consumes happiness

from both ends of the barrel.

As the victim takes their last breath,

the men on the hills move their gun to the left

and begin again.

A bomb is just a bomb

until it explodes.

Bursts of rubble captivate creators.

But leave the cockroaches looking for safety.

The victims are animals,

scattering around,

thrown from their feet.

A life isnt as important

when they are animals.