Final answer:
The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 is an example of history repeating itself, as ethnic tensions and political factors led to widespread killings, similar to the Holocaust. Contributing factors like prejudice, propaganda, and delayed international response allowed for the tragedy to occur, highlighting the need for vigilance against genocidal patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
One example of how 'history repeats itself' in the context of genocide can be found in the tragic events that unfolded during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. Ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority, exacerbated by Belgian colonial policies and political propaganda, led to the mass killings of Tutsis and moderate Hutus, with an estimated 800,000 lives lost over a period of just 100 days. This horrific event underscores the persistence of genocidal patterns throughout history, often driven by a mix of power dynamics, fear, and the human ability to dehumanize others based on ethnicity or religion.
The reason this happened again, despite the lessons of the Holocaust, is likely due to continued human conflicts over identity, power, and resources, paired with the international community's delayed response and the local population's obedience to authority. Intergroup prejudice and propaganda can fuel intolerance and mass violence, showing the terrible cost of failing to act against the warning signs of impending atrocities. The Rwandan Genocide, much like the Holocaust, serves as a stark reminder of the necessity to confront hatred and promote understanding to prevent such tragedies in the future.