Jacquelyn R.

Bergado
BSE 3-III

Hotel Rwanda
The film Hotel Rwanda is set in 1994 during the Rwandan Genocide, in which an estimated
800,000 people, mainly Tutsi, were killed by Hutu extremists During that year, Rwanda's
population of seven million was composed of two major groups: Hutu (approximately 85%), and
Tutsi (14%). In the early 1990s, Hutu extremists within Rwanda's political elite blamed the entire
Tutsi minority population for the country's economic and political problems. Tutsi civilians were
also accused of supporting a Tutsi-dominated rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front.
On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot
down Following that incident, the genocide began. Hutu extremists belonging to
the Interahamwe militia launched plans to destroy the entire Tutsi civilian population. Tutsi and
people suspected of being Tutsi were killed in their homes and as they tried to flee the country. It
is estimated that some 200,000 people participated in the perpetration of the Rwandan
genocide.Hotelier Paul Rusesabagina of the Belgian owned luxury Hôtel des Mille Collines, used
his power and influence to personally save both Tutsi and Hutu refugees. Rusesabagina regularly
bribed Rwandan Hutu soldiers and kept militias outside the hotel's property during the hundred
days of killing.Following the carnage, Rusesabagina survived along with his wife, four children,
two adopted nieces; as well as most of the refugees he sheltered.
The history of the peoples of Rwanda and its neighboring countries is complex and disputed,
so inevitably this movie contains some simplification.For instance, a conversation between a
journalist and a Rwandan at the hotel bar gives the impression that there were no social
distinctions between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda before Belgian colonial rule. The reality was
not so simple.Prior to Belgian colonial rule, it seems that were distinctions between Hutu and
Tutsi, but they were primarily economic rather than racial. The Tutsis were the aristocracy and
the Hutu were the common people. It was not impossible to change status, and "become" a
powerful Tutsi (which means "rich in cattle") or an ordinary Hutu. The Belgians heavily favored
the Tutsis and exacerbated and codified the formerly flexible divide between the two groups.

Because of the film that has been shown to me, I had a further understanding of the effects of
internal conflict in countries. The effects were dreadful and innocent people were killed,
wounded and psychologically tramatised because of the violence. I also learnt that even if we
have sound thinking, we would still turn violent and resort to mass killings. We only need
something or someone to trigger it and in the case of Rwanda, it only took one man, the media
(radio broadcast) to trigger the Hutus to go on a killing spree.It was really sad that innocent
people were involved and even children were horrendously killed. I hope that whatever happened
to Rwanda will not happen ever again, be it on Rwanda on other parts of the world.To avoid this
kind of conflicts, I think we should learn to be tolerant towards others and try to understand each
other without letting our emotions take over our sound minds.

While our society has become much more accepting of different cultures and races, we still struggle
greatly. One of the most familiar and disturbing examples of this is the Trayvon Martin case. While it is
being argued that he seemed suspicious, the prevailing factor is that he was a black male. Another
portrayal of the discrimination left in our society is how many Muslim’s are treated since 9/11. Many
Americans see a Middle Eastern man or woman and associate them immediately with the horrible
tragedy.

Segregation and discrimination are horrendous parts of our culture that do not show signs of
disappearing. As long as people remain closed-minded and are willing to do anything for power or
success, it will be an issue that we will have to face.I Hope our country never experience this kind of
unjusticed crime let us protect our life and rights for being a person.Dont allow anyone to manipulate
our country we need to be brave to stop all of the powerful people who blame us.