A Rwandan-A Tiger within.

“Don’t kid yourself. Your cat or mine-yes, that sweet little kitty-has the brain and all the instincts of a tiger, and is just as cold-blooded. If I were smaller and she was larger, she would be interested in me for the same reason she loves to watch the sparrows that land on our back porch”. Loron Wade in his little book “What if We Did It God’s Way? THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” page 72.

I would say, if France and Germany were smaller in economy and military power and Rwanda was larger, Paris and Berlin, and probably Madrid would be under siege by now, and Rose Kabuye would be home whether dead or alive. At least that’s what would happen, people say, to Tehran, if the Islamic Republic of Iran would arrest Bush’s chief protocol. And many Rwandans are burning with anger that best could be described this way. What is it that makes many Rwandans march into the streets and peacefully surround, chant and yell against one of the embassy that they respected the most just few hours earlier? Was it really because the government asked or forced them to do so? Or is there a real anger burning underneath the mind of a people?

There is nothing as offensive to the genocide victims as many statements in the web of the media, implying that the death of one of the most blood thirsty dictators was a trigger for genocide.
In 1959, 1962 and 64, 1972 and 75, 1982, there was never a gun pointed to someone or something, leave alone the idea of shooting down an airplane. Yet, during those years, at a good watch and support of France and other western countries, people were slaughtered like animals in butcheries with machetes bought in China on French government’s own budget, homes were put to fire like that famous Elijah’s alter, only with motive far different than Elijah’s-to destroy to efface God’s people from planet earth and not to vindicate God.

To Rwandans, The arrest of Rose Kabuye is not a human rights and international justice in action but “Agasuzuguro” in force, which literally means an offensive display of superiority, self-importance and overbearing pride- something that Rwandans do not buy at ease. An exaggeration may be? Well, why would France feel offended if Rwandans deem the French Language to be of less importance? Is there any school in France that teaches Kinyarwanda to imply that Rwanda should do the same for maintenance of a good covenant that benefits the two countries?

It is estimated by statistics that more than 5% of people in prison in western countries are innocent. Though that is not a significant number compared to those in prisons in developing countries, it clearly 5% of people in prison make a large number in millions. Rwandans recognize that Rose Kabuye has now become one of them. Hence, the Rwandans did not march to protest against the Germans simply because the government was behind it; it is an expression of a real anger burning within.

Should Rwanda act on its cat size and snuggle with bigger economies because of fear of inversion through interahamwe? Or should Rwanda ignore its size to fight with these nations for further generations to come? I am not giving my opinion, but calling to all Rwandans to measure our determination to keep our land as peaceful as we can without losing our warm, welcoming and acceptance culture that open doors to any foreigner who want settle with us and be a part of us.