Persuasive Commentary
Forgive but why? April 6, 2014 marked 20 years after the Rwanda genocide in 1994. Most people today have heard about the genocide in Rwanda. 20 years later, Rwanda can show us how to forgive and live on.
The Hutu and Tutsi’s are two, not so different, ethnics that live in Rwanda together. The people were classified as two different ethnics when really there isn’t any difference, only one is generally taller (Johnson 1). The tension and history between the Hutu and Tutsi’s rivalry shocked the 20th century, thought to have never been forgivable. The Hutu’s had a lot of revulsion towards the Tutsi’s and they have been enemies. It was a dynamic volcano ready to explode. The climax of this volcanic hatred erupts in the 1994, in which Hutu militias targeted Tutsi’s, resulting in a 100-day massacre, slaughtering between 800,000 and 1 million Tutsi’s (Johnson 1). Now 20 years later, is it possible to forgive? For years after the genocide, the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s have lived in an awkward state of mind. For years they have lived a non-social relationship with each other. Who would blame them? It was split between the predators and the victim survivors (Forgiving The Rwandan Genocide 1). Evil amongst the innocent. The scared with memories and the ashamed convicts living with each other.
One would say, of course! Right? Why would the victims befriend someone that was part of slaying their dad? Killing their mother? Killing their brother? Annihilating their family?
Would you forgive to bring peace in the world 20 years later?
Imagine your family being killed right in front of you. Imagine living without your parents forever and instantly becoming an orphan. Imagine life without the one you love most. Now, imagine not frighten anymore, knowing that something like this mass murder will never happen again. Imagine your life growing and moving forward in the future. That’s what the Rwandan’s need. They need freedom to live with themselves. If they don’t bring peace an
The Hutu and Tutsi’s are two, not so different, ethnics that live in Rwanda together. The people were classified as two different ethnics when really there isn’t any difference, only one is generally taller (Johnson 1). The tension and history between the Hutu and Tutsi’s rivalry shocked the 20th century, thought to have never been forgivable. The Hutu’s had a lot of revulsion towards the Tutsi’s and they have been enemies. It was a dynamic volcano ready to explode. The climax of this volcanic hatred erupts in the 1994, in which Hutu militias targeted Tutsi’s, resulting in a 100-day massacre, slaughtering between 800,000 and 1 million Tutsi’s (Johnson 1). Now 20 years later, is it possible to forgive? For years after the genocide, the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s have lived in an awkward state of mind. For years they have lived a non-social relationship with each other. Who would blame them? It was split between the predators and the victim survivors (Forgiving The Rwandan Genocide 1). Evil amongst the innocent. The scared with memories and the ashamed convicts living with each other.
One would say, of course! Right? Why would the victims befriend someone that was part of slaying their dad? Killing their mother? Killing their brother? Annihilating their family?
Would you forgive to bring peace in the world 20 years later?
Imagine your family being killed right in front of you. Imagine living without your parents forever and instantly becoming an orphan. Imagine life without the one you love most. Now, imagine not frighten anymore, knowing that something like this mass murder will never happen again. Imagine your life growing and moving forward in the future. That’s what the Rwandan’s need. They need freedom to live with themselves. If they don’t bring peace an
Cited: "Forgiving The Rwandan Genocide." Controversial News Controversial Current Events Intentious. Intentious, 7 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. Johnson, Bridget. "Understanding the Conflict between Rwanda 's Tutsis and Hutus." About.com World News. About.com, 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. "Rwanda: 20 Years after the Genocide." Trocaire. Trócaire Head Office, January and February 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.