Thomas Franco

Mr. McConnell

English 9

April 28, 2017

Forgiveness

Jesus taught humanity and future generations the importance of forgive while on the

cross. Forgiveness seemed so easy for Jesus, but is it really possible to be easy? The power of

forgiveness is incredible, not only the first step to heal the damage of a relationship, but to be

able to move on with one's life. Immaculee views forgiveness as an important aspect of her life,

as the lack of forgiveness has caused this genocide to occur, and how refusing to forgive others is

still a major problem in society today.

Forgiveness is the stepping stone in any relationship going through a healing process.

However, forgiveness is not for the sinner's sake, but for the one being sinned against.

Immaculee forgives those who killed her family and destroyed everything in her life, just like

how Jesus forgave those who went against his teachings. Immaculee did not forgive the killers

so the killers could feel mercy, but so she could finally move on with her life instead of being

weighed down with hatred. Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive one another

if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." God asks His

people to forgive those who sin against them, just like He forgives people when they turn against

him. Forgiveness is vital for every person if that person wants to be able to move on with their

life. People forgive those who persecute them for their own sake. That is why Immaculee

forgives the man who took everything away from her. "I answered him with the truth:

'Forgiveness is all I have to offer.'" (Ilibageza 204). Immaculee is moving on with her life, she is
lifting up this burden of hatred in order to do so. Many people struggle to turn to the light as

they cave into the hatred of others.

Lacking forgiveness causes hatred and a deep desire for vengeance. Before the Belgians

colonized Rwanda, the Hutu's were the supreme ethnic group over the Tutsi's. When the

Belgians came over, they decided to favor the Tutsi minority because they looked more

European. This gave the Tutsi's their chance to oppress the Hutu's the same way the Hutu's

oppressed them. When the Belgians left, the Hutu's regained control as the superior ethnic

group. The Hutu's want the Tutsis to pay for their actions. The Pastor's son feels this way on

page 85. "'Those Tutsi's have always thought they're superior . . . always looking down on us

Hutu's.'" (Ilibageza 85). Many people felt that they had to retaliate against the opposition to

draw even because of what the other side initiated. The captain at the camp offered to kill

anyone she wanted because he felt Hutu's should suffer for what they're doing. "'I'll kill any

Hutu you want me to!' He was so eager to kill that he didn't let me finish my sentence. 'If there's

any Hutu you know about in this camp, tell me and I'll shoot them myself, I hate them all.'"

(Ilibageza 159). So many people lack the caring merciful heart that Immaculee has. Everyone

just wants to get even and inflict the same kind of pain they received on those who gave it to

them.

Seeking forgiveness leads to the end result of peace. But it takes time and it takes

patience. Immaculee didn't forgive the killers right away when the genocide ended. Immaculee

experiences a healing process before she decided to forgive the killers. She did not turn to anger

and violence like she could have through the many temptations. Responding with violence only

angers the person against you, which instigates the conflict between them. This is what started in

Rwanda that led to the genocide. They refused to consider forgiveness and to drop their
weapons. If more people forgave those they disliked, that person would feel a lot happier as

would the person they disliked. The tension between them is over, because no one deserves to be

hated or oppressed. In society today some places turn away from different races and religious

groups because they are different. This has been a problem even before the Rwandan Genocide.

It all filters down to one thing: people refuse to turn to forgiveness, they're missing God in their

lives. Most people lack that connection with God in this secular type of society we live in today.

If God is welcomed into the hearts and lives of the people, peace can spread across the globe.

Forgiveness is an important part of Immaculee's life. The problems in Rwanda revolve

around lack of forgiveness and the world today. People don't have to be best friends with those

they don't get along with, but that doesn't mean that person should be treated with anything less

than respect. If people learned to forgive others and trust in God like Immaculee, people would

be a lot happier with themselves as an individual.