Individuals across the world must speak out against injustice and stand up for those in need, said Paul Rusesabagina, hero of the Rwanda crisis, last night to a packed house at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
What happened in Rwanda is a message
he said. What we need from you is to be our good messengers.
Rusesabagina's real-life story as hotel manager of the Mille Collines hotel during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda is the basis for the 2004 award-winning film, Hotel Rwanda. The plight of Rusesabagina, and countless others who survived the clash that claimed one million lives over the course of 100 days, was brought to life in his speech.
So many died during that time and it changed me forever said Rusesabagina, a Hutu who provided refuge for hundreds of Tutsis during the crisis.
Rusesabagina outlined the history of Rwanda dating back to pre-colonization, which lead to the ethnic conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. He noted that what happened in 1994 was not new to Rwanda or to the region. Africa, Rusesabagina said, had been teeming with conflict for years.
Another massacre also took place in 1973 but no one talks about it
he said.
Nevertheless, Hotel Rwanda only captured a part of the struggle between Hutus and Tutsis, Rusesabagina said.
In 'Hotel Rwanda
' we took a small chapter of a big book
because the movie starts and ends in the walls of the hotel
he said. If the hotel was supposed to be a safe place
just imagine what was going on outside its walls.
Rusesabagina's speech forced Jessica Stith, a senior, to imagine the extent of what happened in the nation, she said.
I thought the movie was a powerful statement
but his speech explained a lot of things and really struck a chord with me
she said.
Fellow senior Sarah Smith said she was impressed with students' interest in the speech.
The fact that this many people showed up and were able to take something away from the speech is amazing
she said.
Smith, who spent two and a half months studying abroad in Africa over the summer, was not a stranger to the issues Rusesabagina presented, but she still was enlightened by his message.
I was unaware of the genocide when it was happening
