Lilyanne's review
A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide
by Samantha Power
Lilyanne's review
A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide by Samantha Power
Lilyanne's review
rating:
This book literally changed my entire outlook on foreign policy. I used to be somewhat of a non-interventionist liberal—i.e. we should respect other people’s cultures by leaving them alone and not forcing American values upon them. This book taught me that values like respect for life is not an American value, it is a human value. And there is no excuse for looking the other way when genocides occur around the world. This book is essentially a history of genocides in the 20th century, which means it is also a history of the American government doing nothing to stop them, even when they are well aware of what is going on. Whether it is because we are indifferent to the plight of people who look different from us, or helping a certain people is not in our strategic self-interest, or we are afraid of making matters worse… genocide is a crime against humanity and every government has an obligation to intervene when it occurs.
