From April 7 to July 15, 1994, nine-year-old Jacqueline Murekatete witnessed the atrocities of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In this episode, Jacqueline offers us the context in which CURRENT, yes current, religious and ethnic minorities are suffering.
Jacqueline’s responsibility to share her story and that of her family came to light when she met David Gewirtzman, a holocaust survivor, as a sophomore in a United States high school. David became a trusted friend, confidant and mentor to Jacqueline as they traveled widely speaking publicly about their personal knowledge relating to intolerance and hate.
“From goals and dreams to being hunted for extermination”, is exactly how Jacqueline describes the dramatic change in her life when the Hutu government of Rwanda encouraged, to the point of implementation, the systemic murders of their neighbors, family members and friends who were ethnically, Tutsis - Jacqueline’s heritage. Targeted because of their ethnicity, the Tutsi’s were initially labeled as cockroaches and by the time the genocide began they were seen as inhuman.
Has anyone treated you like a cockroach? Have you treated another like a cockroach?
Jacqueline bravely represents her family and her ethnicity as the founder of the Genocide Survivors Foundation. Having lived in fear for her life, over the 100 day siege, she values our humanity in a deeper way than most.
How is it that “in this day and age there are people who believe that other humans don’t deserve to live? Genocides continue to be a major threat facing humanity”, Jacqueline shares with me in our conversation.
This ideology of overpowering a person or person’s due to their faith, ethnicity or gender has to be fought. Jacqueline explains what many know to be true, “we have the same God given right to exist.”
Her friend and mentor, David Gewirtzman, is quoted as saying, “diversity is not adversity. Human diversity is an asset to be embraced.”
Do you value diversity?
If so, how do you REPRESENT that you value diversity?
Jacqueline’s passion to live for her family and to help others guided her path to the founding of the Geneocide Survivors Foundation. “Live beyond yourself and with passion for others.” Jacqueline is a treasure in our midst. She offers us a light to peace with the call to focus on finding our own passions and pursuing them.
Friends, what is your passion for others? Are you following this passion?
Together, we are better.
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