The Guatemalan Civil War lasted from 1960 until Because many civilians were becoming upset with the conservative government, they began to organize against it. The government was led by a series of dictators who kept control through a great deal of violence directed at the civilian population. Groups that were targeted include the indigenous Mayan people, peasants, and large number of academics and students, journalists, and even street children. The term often used to describe the kidnapping, imprisonment, or killing of civilians was “forced disappearance”

In all, there were about 200, 000 people who were killed over this time, including about 50,000 who disappeared. There were many periods of increased and decreased violence and tragedy over the more than thirty-year period. This time saw many massacres, cruel forms of torture, poverty and lack of health care, instability, and an inability to deal with disasters such as the 1976 earthquake which killed tens of thousands. Eventually, stable peace agreements were reached through a variety of events which included continued resistance by the people, pressure and help from outside governments and the U.N., democratic elections, and mediation by the Catholic Church.

Recent Article #1 Contemporary Latin American artists create works that respond to repressive political and social realities Jodie Feinberg The Patriot Ledger April 17, 2014 Notable words: performance art socialism

Recent Article #2 Guatemalan Attorney General Paz y Paz: Punished for being effective on big crimes? Benjamin reeves The Tico Times May 3, 2004 Notable words: impunity attorney general

Recent Article #3 Title: Author Publication Date Notable words:

Personal Response What happened in Guatemala in the second half of the twentieth century was, in my opinion, horrific. I was surprised to learn that this genocide was part of a larger trend of oppression which occurred in a number of central and South American countries in the second half of the 1900s. Also, I now understand how such events impact art and politics for years afterward, and that so many factors are required to establish peace.

Personal Response The most personal link I can make to this event is that my grandfather fought for the German army in World War Two. Although he was not an evil man, and he was captured before he had seen battle, he was still part of a horrible machine that discriminated against others, dehumanized people and committed genocide. I imagine that some members of the Guatemalan government forces were similar in that regard.

Personal Response I think the fact that these events are still in the news shows what importance they have. This is somewhat encouraging, because it means that we are not simply forgetting about them, but it is also a reminder that history tends to repeat itself. What can I do as a high school student to try to ensure that it doesn’t reoccur. I can spread awareness by explaining my new understanding to my friends, and I can recognize the potential in myself to sometimes treat certain types of people as “the other”, and make sure I remember we are all in this together.