Reflection On Rwanda

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Literary Analysis Diandra Burgos English Critical Thinking (ENG 201) Ms. Felicita Arzu March 31st, 2011 Personally, I am too broken-hearted about what is happening there in Rwanda. It’s not just happening in Rwanda. We only hear about Ruanda more often now because this particular story has given that region a voice. Two themes that I find to be portrayed throughout the movie and on several occasions is that no matter what we want of life we have to give up something in order to get it and one of self-reliance, or absence of external help. Like what Harry Browne states, “Everything you want in life has a price connected to it. There’s a price to pay if you want to make things better, a price to pay just for leaving things as they are, a price for everything.” Thinking about life, what I have I paid to get here? Or what have the Rwandaian Tutsi’s paid to get to safety if not freedom? Paul Rusesabagina pays for his families and neighbors’ freedom and life by bribing an army officer, even negotiating the price for each. He is able to purchase beer and scotch for the hotel from the distributor, as long as he is willing to pay the price demanded. He consistently bribes the army general for protection for the hotel’s occupants from the armed militia. And when the bribes run out, so does the protection. And if security was wanted again then the militia would consider the bribe that Paul has to offer to see if they benefit enough from it. When I start thinking about it with this type of mentality or lack of productivity I get confused to think that the people from Rwanda or Africa, since it’s a problem all over the continent, believe that all this violence and genocides will actually bring about a different, better way of life. For sure it will be a ‘different’ country but what started it would just make it corrupt and probably bring about more exploitation.
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