My articles are normally derived from the discussions I have with various people from all over, be it with Rwandese or foreigners ,its always to do with what is going on in our country or in the world abroad. Be it topics from world war two debates about global crisis, but this is all together very different and very personally, this is the month of commemoration. During the commemoration month I talked to many people, people who have travelled from and through Rwanda, such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, as well as South Africa, some who say they truly feel that this month of mourning is too harsh and we should reduce it, why so? Because they feel that if we should truly be able to move on then we should forget the past and move on to the present. Your opinions have been heard and truly I have heard you with an open mind. But these people I have to say that for once I truly disagree. Now I know that because this my article I may have the right to write what I believe in without your protestations right in my face at this moment but I would be glad to meet the person who is willing to challenge me at right at this moment. Why? The month isn’t too harsh nor should what occurred in it fifteen years ago be forgotten but remembered, not only now but every day. If you have the stomach to bear with me then let me tell you a short story, about why this article isn’t just a voice of my own opinion but personal and fact. I first arrived in Rwanda in 1997, and when I arrived I had heard about the genocide, but I really didn’t understand the depth of the word ‘Genocide’ until I saw the word in actual sense. Visiting the memorial and hearing the real testimonies of people are first outrageous and unbelievable and that is why I understand those who don’t have the stomach for it-I came to hate those who had anything to do with the genocide in Rwanda whether foreign or domestic . I came to learn that I lost my very own grandfather in not the genocide of 1994 but the genocide of 1963, a pastor who was killed for helping Tutsi refugees in the village of Nyamata; he went by the names of Yona kanamuzeyi. I learnt that his last words were recorded in a book, and they were “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”, who was I to hate these people when my grandfather had asked for the forgiveness o f the very same people that had taken his life. So please understand that their reason I disagree with those who believe that this month is too harsh for most of us it is the only time we get to commemorate those we have lost. In this very article I light my own candle to all those who have lost someone they have lost, be it their mother ,their father, their bother, their sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother, or grandfather, family of friend I ask you all whether you belive this month is to harsh for you to handle or to short to mourn light a candle wherever and whoever you are and pray we us for those we have lost and may this lesson be learnt and never happen again, MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN ETERNAL PEACE. Ends
