Aurigue, Mariah Jiana Patrice Corazon F.

International Political Economy

AB Foreign Service FS302 Sir Jumel G. Estrañero
March 24, 2018

The Schism That Shall Be Abhorred and Forborne:

A Critique on 'Hotel Rwanda' Film

If any other individual is faced with the dilemma of surviving with his/her family amidst a civil war
with time ticking and life-threatening situations, where one's morality and conscience will be
tested and questioned every now and then; not everyone would have done what Paul
Rusesabagina, the lead character of Hotel Rwanda movie, had decided to do. Aside from
successfully depicting what transpired during the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, the said film had
effectively and convincingly manifested various personal conflicts experienced by the characters
of the movie.

Paul's character is deeply relatable to the viewers, not only because he appears to be the
protagonist of the film; but because Paul is a real life individual who was able to experience the
tragedy of Rwandan civil war and many times had he been led to choose between his family
and duty, whether to be practical or be moral, or whether to run and save himself and his family
or stay and heed his conscience. I believe that he is innately a good and smart man with a kind
heart yet he is also a practical guy who would always prioritize his family's needs and safety first
over the others, even if it means keeping a blind eye to the hostilities around them. So his
decision to include some of his Tutsi neigbors was greatly influenced by his wife,Tatiana, who is
also a Tutsi. If Tatiana was the type of wife who keeps her thoughts and opinions to herself,
shuts her mouth, and just lets her husband decide for the family, then it is highly probable that
Paul would have just saved his family only and left the other Tutsis on the hands of
Interahamwe. Tatiana and her children with Paul are always on the brink of death in every turn
of the movie, merely for being a Tutsi; but it did not stop her to be the 'conscience' or the moral
compass that guides Paul to make right and humane decisions. It is extremely difficult and
dangerous for Paul as a Hutu to protect and hide his wife, children and other Tutsis amid the
genocide, so it would have been understandable if Paul had been practical and just
continuously kept a blind eye to the atrocities being done to the Tutsis; but it's a good thing that
he listens and respects his wife's wishes about saving other Tutsi people, because this meant
that more human lives were preserved and protected.

It's unfortunate that Paul had to bargain money and other material things with Hutu militia in
order to live, as if any life amounts to a certain tangible wealth. It is degrading for them to beg
for their lives and pay certain amount for them to continue living. It's very witty of Paul for him to
have established good rapport with political and influential figures, so that when they need help,
they know certain individuals to call. But in reality and at times of need and grave danger, these
'connections' could only offer little help, and some are even useless. Another heavy dilemma
that was put on Paul's shoulders was the responsibility of running the hotel and secretly making
it a refugee camp for Tutsis, especially when he has to manage the hotel's stock of food and
water to provide the people's basic needs, all the while knowing that there'll be no help from the
United Nations and that they will be all left to die without intervention and help from other states.
Paul had to constantly think of solutions to alleviate their impossible situation. He had been
given the burden to look for a way out from the tragedy they found themselves trapped in.

It's already difficult to survive for yourself and for your life, but it's harder to keep surviving
because many lives are depending on you. It's difficult to live for the day knowing that any
minute you might die, but it's harder to keep living in order to protect numerous lives knowing
that there's no assurance of tomorrow. It's difficult to asure the people who depend on you to
have faith and keep hoping that things will get better, but it's harder to assure yourself that it's all
going to be fine when you know there's no more hope left on the dire situation you're in. Those
were the impasses that Paul had to face all throughout the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi discord.

Canadian Colonel Oliver was also put in a tough position, as the leader of the UN peacekeeping
forces, when his actions are restrained by the order coming from higher authorities. He
witnesses how bloody and hostile the situation in Rwanda is, and in all fairness to him, he had
exerted efforts to protect the innocent victims among the clash between two ethnic groups. But
his efforts are not enough, as he said, they are only there to be peacekeepers and not
peacemakers - how can they keep the peace when in the first place, there is no peace to keep?
Clearly, Rwanda in 1994 needed peacemakers rather than peacekeepers. It is extremely
frustrating on Colonel Oliver's part to limit his actions based on strict orders given to him, while
witnessing how atrocious and horrifying the chaos is and how badly Rwanda needs help and
interference from more powerful states and international organizations such as United Nations.

Of course, just like in any other society, there are people who are too focused on themselves,
who are consumed with greed and hunger for power, authority, and wealth - and these kind of
people were portrayed by General Bizimungu, Gregoire, and other members of Hutu militia.
Georhes Rutaganda embodies those people in this world who are too driven by twisted
principles and beliefs who have no mercy and regard for life.

This horrible experience by both innocent Tutsis and Hutus who survived the 1994 Rwandan
genocide, is very depressing to learn, especially knowing that they were left to figure their way
out all by themselves with no help from other countries just because majority of the world
population has no regard for being the black people they are. That even when dead bodies are
scattered, children are murdered, men and women continuously being killed, they all are of little
importance to the world because of the color of their skin. It is heartbreaking to learn through
this movie, how helpless the innocent Rwandans in 1994 when there was no hope of receiving
help from the other nations because they were regarded as 'nothing' or just 'dirt' by the white
people who were supposed to extend their hands and lift these Rwandans up.

Security, as one of the main conflicts in the film, is what had been deprived from the Rwandans
and considered to be a failure on the part of their government for unsuccessfuly providing this
for their people regardless of the division of ethnic groups. Security is very essential in
managing the external and internal affairs of any given state. Every individual must feel safe and
secured in order for him/her to function well in a society. Once people feel unsafe, and their
security has been compromised, people would start hiding to protect themselves from any
probable harm. People would naturally think of survival first, and this would wventually create
panic and chaos. The daily routine in a country will be heavily affected if its people feel insecure
and unsafe, the growth and progress as a nation will be hindered as a result. Citizens of a state
will only function to the best of their abilities, only when they know they are safe, secured and
far from danger. The microactions of individuals contribute to the economy of the nation as a
whole; therefore, it's very important to make sure they are assured of their security.

Security also plays a vital role in the realization of goals and agenda of a state. Only when there
is a national security that a state will fulfill its economic and political aims inclined to national
development and growth. If national security is compromised, the tendency is for the state to
focus its attention to eliminate the threats; hence, prioritizing national secutity over other matters
of the state which in effect could hinder economic growth.

Security is also one of the main agendas of the states why they enter into bilateral or multilateral
agreements. Such as in Asia Pacific Region, where regional security is a point of interest and
discourse by the states involved. Regional security is a main challenge among the states in the
Asia Pacific region, especially when tensions arise from territorial disputes, terrorist activities
and threats that could jeopardize not only one state, but the entire region as well. Regional
security is significant in a state political economy, where leaders of different nations have the
need to constantly negotiate with one another on how they could keep the peace and deal with
any sign of security threats.

I do believe that peace comes before development. It is hard for any given country to realize its
development goals, when peace has not yet been attained. If there is an absence of peace
within a state, and chaos is evident among the citizens, just like in the movie, then this will
definitely impede the development as a state. For there to be a development, every aspect of a
state must be in order, and to have order, there must be peace among the majority of the
population. It's absurd and fruitless to achieve development goals as a state when the people
are not at peace with each other and that they are going against one another - just like how
Hutus and Tutsis are trying to kill each other. In my pespective, the current administration of the
Philippine government right now has a good strategy in attaining peaceful and sustainable
development for the country. I concur with the way how President Duterte does not accord with
the demands from insurgent groups and terrorists and that his administration are trying yo
counter their actions. It's refreshing to witness how the said Philippine President is veering away
from the traditional alliance with other states and creating new partnerships with nations that
may help us in attaining our goals in terms of sustainable development.

I pray that what happened in Rwandan genocode in 1994 shall never happen to the Philippines.
I strongly believe that the schism that exists among people's ethnicities, religions, beliefs, races,
and even skin colors is the root of evil that costs numerous lives. I am asking the entire Filipino
race that we shall never distinguish ourselves based on our ethnic group, religion or beliefes we
have but rather see ourselves as part one nation. We must refrain from discriminating our fellow
Filipinos just because we do not share the same skin color, religion, ethnic group, beliefs, or
even principles in life. We must always bear in mind that we share the same race, we share
similar roots of our forefathers who fought for the freedom we are enjoying today, and that no
matter what happens, we remain to be Filipinos. Filipinos should unite, and our government
must actively keep the spirit of nationalism burning in the hearts of every Filipino through
nationwide propaganda, programs and activities. It is the task of the Philippine government to
remind its citizens how we should all unite and move towards peace, growth and progress as a
nation. We, as a Filipino nation, must see ourselves as one in attaining prosperity for our
country; thus, we must abhor and forebear any schism among us Filipinos that may impede
national growth and development.