In "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families," Philip Gourevitch explores the desensitization surrounding political violence in contemporary society. He notes that reports of mass killings have become a common aspect of our media consumption, often portrayed uniformly. The focus tends to be on the innocent victims and the monstrous perpetrators, while the complex political realities are either ignored or oversimplified.

This trend leads to a disconnection and a sense of absurdity regarding the tragic events. The victims and their aggressors become mere symbols of violence, stripping away their individual contexts and humanity. As a result, the horror of these situations loses its emotional impact, leaving society grappling with the implications of such extreme violence without a nuanced understanding of its causes and consequences.