Post Seminar Maus Question

Our seminar was pitifully short. This book was pretty straight forward to me, so I didn't have all too many questions at the exceptions for the masks. I feel that we heard opinions to justify the uses of masks, some better than others, but I definitely saw that we didn't reach a conclusion with those opinions and that we really left it there. I personally have no real clue what the masks mean, though I am sure they are significant. I have a few ideas, but nothing concrete. This issue definitely could have been addressed better and more effectively.

Modern Day issues in the Congo.

Link 1 Reuters

Link 2 CNN

Recurring issues in the Congo seem to revolve around violence and rape, with an emphasis on the latter. The Congolese government seems to either be unaware or unable to act on these issues. The UN has been acting with minimal severity among the Congo. The UN has taken up what appears to be a police role, catching a few of those responsible for various rapes and murders. Obviously, with the crime rate being so high, there is only so much the UN can legally do. Looking back, the way of life in the Congo has changed very little, even with the absence of a definite colonial power. People are still raped and murdered without repercussion, only this time there is no foreigner to blame.