TOMORROW, all roads will lead to Amahoro National Stadium where official celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the Liberation will take place. But as we celebrate, July 4th is not about song, dance and merry making, but rather an introspection of the heavy prize that came with it. The irony of the events being in Amahoro stadium is that it was the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAMIR), who, instead of offering protection, crossed their arms and watched as members of the Tutsi community were being killed before their eyes. The carnage was only put to an end by the bravery of the small force camped at the Parliamentary Buildings despite having to deal with heavy assaults from all sides. That was the epitome of resilience and determination. This country has come a long way; many of its wounds were healed along the way, but fragility remains in many areas, especially among Genocide survivors. But the country’s leadership has managed to steer all obstacles and pushed on. That is what President Kagame calls the “Rwandan spirit” that overcame all odds and trudged on regardless of the challenges. The milestone that will be marked tomorrow should drive home the need to put country above self, peace above war, but most important of all; that no obstacle is insurmountable if the will is there. That is the spirit that continues to guide the current generation of leaders.
