Roger Spottiswoode’ Movie and the aftermath of Genocide

In the course of our lifetime, most of us go through some traumatic incidents. As we wind up the ‘Cyunamo’ (commemoration week), let us all focus on what we learnt the past week. Let us not only be hearers but also doers of the things we learn. I realized this week that reading, writing or hearing about these violent stories affect us in one way or another. I have had sleepless nights after listening to survivors’ stories. Though not affected directly, I have had to cry after visiting several memorial sites. One thing I must say is that Connecting with others, especially those who may have experienced the same, or a similar traumatic experience, talking about your fears, concerns and feelings is an important step in the healing process. Verbalizing your thoughts will help you understand your emotions and identify which ones need immediate attention. And as we continue in the struggle for peace and reconciliation, let us be mindful of others. Let us relate with the situation whether we were affected directly or indirectly. Let us all watch our tongues less we become offensive and insensitive. A person who has not gone through trauma might find it hard to understand someone who has but honestly how hard is it to imagine being alone, or depressed or hurt? How hard can it be to relate with people whose families were brutally murdered? Relate to people not based on them changing whether you are right or not but just as Christ received you and took the sinful you. When my father died nine years ago, I always thought that moving on was a sign of disrespect, whenever I would go out with friends and have a great time, I would later feel guilty until I found out that I was doing myself more harm than good. As we move on here in Rwanda let us not be deceived that we are dishonouring our dead by mourning on. It is certainly appropriate to grieve, and there is no reason to pretend the grieving has ended just because a customary mourning period has passed. However, if at some point you do not pick yourself up and get involved with life again, you can become a prisoner of the past, trapped in the hypnotic trance of ongoing grief. If that happens, the year you suffered your loss could turn out to be not only the worst year of your life but in effect, the beginning of the end. They say that time is a healer, and I believe it is because I have seen that Rwandans are ready to rise again. As we say and mean “Never again” Let us all direct our energy in re building our nation and re branding it to the most peaceful country in Eastern Africa. I wish we could be brave enough and not feel sorry when we shun all the pessimists in the rebuilding of our nation. I hope at this point am allowed to express my disappointment in one Roger Spottiswoode. He is the director of the movie “shaking hands with the devil.” The movie was screened on Tuesday at Serena Kigali. In his speech when asked what message he had for Rwandans, in his own words he said, “I agree that the West, I being included let down Rwanda during the genocide. The Rwandan Case is a pitiful one actually. Well I have no words for Rwanda; I can only tell them good luck”. Is it just only I or that whole statement is very sarcastic? This is someone who has made a kill out of directing a movie about Rwanda and all he has to say is good luck? Good luck in what? Trying to get the perpetrators living in the West to be brought to justice? Good luck in the truth and reconciliation. Why do I get the feeling of someone wishing to direct or this time witness another movie with real script and real cast? As I always say, that is just my view. Someone said that the King’s jokes are always or should always be funny, but honestly if one has nothing to say, he better of keep quite. A fool looks wise while quite. karuthum@gmail.com