"We cannot allow our children to grow up in this corrupt and tyrannical regime, we must fight against it, and I am willing to give up everything, including my life if necessary." (Homeland Mercedes Mirabal) Discuss this quote in relation to the situation the Mirabal sisters and their families found themselves in in their fight for survival against the horrendous regime of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. It is necessary to refer to the events and situations that led the sisters to create the counter-revolutionary group The Butterflies. Over the centuries, man has witnessed some of the world's greatest tragedies; the destruction caused by the bubonic plague, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Rwandan genocide. However, none of these can compare to the devastation caused by world dictators. The lives taken away by these tyrannical rulers are incredibly painful, and former Dominican President Rafael Trujillo is no exception. During his thirty year reign over the Dominican Republic he is believed to be responsible for the lives of over 50,000 innocent people, none of these devastating losses, however, compare to the tragedy of the Mirabal sisters; three honorable women who did nothing but have a voice. The level of political misconduct and unjustified actions was incredible and led the nuns to take drastic measures, Patria said: "We cannot allow our children to grow up in this corrupt and tyrannical regime, we must fight against this, and I am willing to give up." everything, including my life if necessary.”. In their efforts to try to overthrow totalitarianism they found themselves trapped in a situation where their and their families' lives were constantly at risk, and ultimately it was through their tragic… . middle of paper... ...one is why. Why for so long did so many Haitians and Dominicans endure abuse, and why did over 50,000 people have to die so that one man could have what he wanted? in this selfishness is disgusting and should never be allowed to happen again References: Works CitedWikipedia, available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Trujillo#Early_life (accessed: November 2013).Wikipedia, available at. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Time_of_the_Butterflies (accessed: November 2013), available at: http://www.gradesaver.com/in-the-time-of-the- butterflies/study-guide/section6/ (accessed: November 2013). The Real Dominican Republic, available at: http://www.therealdr.com/dominican-republic-history/mirabal-sisters-of-the-dominican-republic.html#.UpUz6WOcUik (accessed November 2013). Julia Alvarez (1994) The time of butterflies