Remembering Rwanda
Thank you for the last edition of Pambazuka! Much appreciated and widely dispersed! I read with vivid interest the sober and chilling summary made by Caplan on Rwanda and it brought back plenty of memories. I note with interest that a number of committees have formed albeit outside Rwanda to commemorate the massacre. I always view such events with some misgivings. I tend to fear that such events become the grounding for a culture of disaster such as that perpetuated by the Jews and the Shoa who seem decidedly unwilling or unable to move on. But I acknowledge that it is only ten years since the atrocious events, which is to say early days. I won't talk about reconciliation since I don't believe that any one who is not directly involved is qualified to even articulate the word in such a situation. However, I think it would be good if people could move on and one thing that helps is to be able to clear the damage suffered. To again have a roof above one's head, to be able to buy food and clothing, to till the land, etc, in short to get back to normal life. But this requires material and financial means. (Not talk! talk! talk! It doesn't feed anybody!)