Make or Break

Wednesday, July 2nd

As our second week continues, we’re getting into the heavy academic coursework, instead of having our more light-hearted cultural field trips. It’s really interesting and important things that we are learning – but I miss getting out of town and having really active days walking in the savanna and interacting with local people.
Today, we toured the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which was created by a UN Security Council resolution to bring justice to the people of Rwanda for the atrocities which occurred in 1994. To give a brief explanation to those who might be unfamiliar with the incident, between April and July of 1994, over 800,000 Rwandans were systematically slaughtered by their own countrymen, in only 90 days. No one was spared, including women and children, and what is particularly gruesome is that the predominant weapon used was a machete. It is considered genocide because the extremist interim government, composed mostly of the Hutu ethnic group, organized the killing of the Tutsi ethnic group population and any moderate Hutus who did not support their extremist views.
So, the ICTR was established in late 1994, but then held the first trials in 1997. It’s still going on today and is located at the Arusha International Conference Center, which is just down the street from our Center. We had to go through security, hand over our passports for the day, and then made our way to go and watch some of the Court proceedings in one of the Chambers. We had read some background information on the ICTR the night before and all I could think about was how inefficient this tribunal must be – it had been going on for over 11 years and still wasn’t done! Yet sitting there, watching the case actually happen before your eyes, gives you a much better perspective. I suddenly understood why it took so long – the judges, prosecutors, witnesses, etc. are from all over the world, hence, there has to be a lot of translation. But much more than that, in order to ensure a fair trial, all things are accounted for and all means are exhausted by both sides. As one of the legal advisers we spoke to in a briefing afterwards told us, “the wheels of justice turn slowly. It is like a freight train – it’s very heavy, very long and very slow – but it is reliable in getting to its destination. And to speed it up, would cause it to derail.”

I’ve spent so much time reading about all of these things in my textbooks and analyzing them in my papers – but it’s so crazy to actually see them take place right in front of you! Suddenly, all these things I have been learning about seemed to click. All of the fragments of knowledge collected in all of my classes began to amalgamate in my brain and I was seeing how it’s all interrelated; I was seeing the big picture. I’m so glad for this experience because it’s going to make my coursework seem so much more tangible once I get back to school this fall. It’s a harsh reality check to sit and listen to witnesses who actually lived and experienced the genocide… to realize that yes, this did happen, this is real life. But it’s an invaluable opportunity and one that I am so grateful to have.
The most impactful part of the day was listening the briefing after the tour and watching some of the trial. The Senior Legal Adviser and spokesman of the ICTR, Mr. Roland Amoussouga, came and spoke to our group. We had the chance to ask him a lot of questions and let me just tell you – this man has a way with words. It was incredible – he was very adept at public speaking (obviously, he’s an accomplished lawyer) but it was in a way that was very passionate, very genuine, and not at all “slick” like you would expect from an American stereotype of a lawyer. He loved to talk, as he confessed all lawyers love to do, but I loved to listen to him. He spoke about the historical landmarks of the ICTR, including the first-ever conviction of a Head of State for the crime of genocide, and about his hope for the future of the international community, particularly in his aspirations for America. The quote that literally brought me to tears was when he was talking about the important role America should play in joining more with other nations to promote liberty and freedom in the world, concluding with “Humanity without America, is not humanity.”

Whoa. Just think about that statement for a second. Let it settle in.





I’d like to think I’m someone who doesn’t shy away from a challenge, who likes to take on responsibility. And when Mr. Amoussouga said that, I viewed it as… the ultimate compliment, but also the ultimate challenge. I am a proud citizen of a nation who has the ability to make or break the world. Yes, that’s a lot of responsibility, isn’t it? And I know that I’m young and idealistic and “have stars in my eyes”… but why not embrace it for once? I’m not old and jaded yet, so instead of feeling foolish about my dreams, why can’t I be excited about it? Why not… make it, instead of break it? Or at least try. It’s good to be young and full of hope. And I’m starting to learn that I shouldn’t apologize for it, because I’m not the only one who feels this way. So, let me live and see how it goes… let me crash and burn and learn the hard way on my own. But for now, I’m going to try to make it.