Editor,This year as part of my Yom Hashoah (African Genocides Commemorations) -- I have been reading the following books/reports. ‘MACHETE SEASON: The Killers in Rwanda Speak’, ‘LIFE LAID BARE: The survivors in Rwanda Speak’, both by Jean Hatzfeld and ‘RWANDA NOT SO INNOCENT: when women become killers’ (a report compiled by African Rights Organisation August 1995). At first came the flood of tears -- imagining the terror of hiding in the swamps for weeks. My heart is filled with admiration not just for the Genocide survivors -- but more for those who died still believing in God’s power -- despite the daily horrors. My own little discomforts are now so petty compared to their courage and endurance. Then came the stunning disbelief -- that folks who had gone to church all their lives so quickly forgot the immutable commandments of God at the drop of a hat. “Thou shalt not kill”! Then came the laughable excuses -- from the same folks who had just one week earlier celebrated the Easter miracle. If I had not hunted and killed my neighbors ………the Interhamwe would have killed me (and my family) instead. Whatever happened to our faith which is supposed to be much stronger that the Interhamwe? The biggest question is not where is God (or the Church) when such evils happen -- rather the biggest question is: where is our moral conscience when we need it the most? Have we truly understood the sense of what is right and what is wrong? Or we just going through the motions again, until something else triggers that dormant evil within us? This brought me to a new resolution for my life -- which is that we have to start living and breathing these immutable commandments -- quietly and consistently right now. We can no longer just shout or sing or preach them in the streets. First we must train our private lifestyles, like athletes preparing for the marathon. So, that this godly conscience becomes second nature and instinctive in our responses. Thaaai Thaaai (peace and blessings) Margeret MaringaKenya Margaret.maringa@carefirst.com
