In Philip Gourevitch's "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families," he reflects on the haunting beauty of the dead found at Nyarubuye after the Rwandan genocide. He describes how the skeletal remains display an unsettling aesthetic through their random arrangements and poignant postures. This beauty stands in stark contrast to the horror of the situation, creating a profound emotional conflict for the observer.
Gourevitch expresses his struggle to find a meaningful response to what he witnesses. While feelings of revulsion, sorrow, and shame surge within him, he acknowledges the inadequacy of these emotions in capturing the depth of the tragedy. The beauty of the dead, juxtaposed with the brutality of their fate, leaves him grappling with an overwhelming sense of incomprehension, emphasizing the complex nature of human suffering and atrocity.