WASHINGTON -- We join with the people of Rwanda in
marking twenty years since the beginning of the genocide that took the lives of
so many innocents and which shook the conscience of the world. We honor the
memory of the more than 800,000 men, women and children who were senselessly
slaughtered simply because of who they were or what they believed. We stand in
awe of their families, who have summoned the courage to carry on, and the
survivors, who have worked through their wounds to rebuild their lives. And we
salute the determination of the Rwandans who have made important progress
toward healing old wounds, unleashing the economic growth that lifts people
from poverty, and contributing to peacekeeping missions around the world to
spare others the pain they have known.
At this moment of reflection, we also remember that the
Rwandan genocide was neither an accident nor unavoidable. It was a deliberate
and systematic effort by human beings to destroy other human beings. The
horrific events of those 100 days—when friend turned against friend, and
neighbor against neighbor—compel us to resist our worst instincts, just as the
courage of those who risked their lives to save others reminds us of our
obligations to our fellow man. The genocide we remember today—and the world’s failure
to respond more quickly—reminds us that we always have a choice. In the face of
hatred, we must remember the humanity we share. In the face of cruelty, we must
choose compassion. In the face of intolerance and suffering, we must never be
indifferent. Embracing this spirit, as nations and as individuals, is how we
can honor all those who were lost two decades ago and build a future worthy of
their lives.
Distributed by African Press Organization
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