I am a Rwanda refugee living in America because of wars caused by Kagame Paul, the current president of Rwanda aided by Yoweri Museveni, an ally of the USA, and this have caused massive devastatation in terms of human lives both in Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and…
Now, Obama is looking to shape the foreigner policy by bringing back the peace in that region by establishing democracy as a model of good governance and respect of human rigths, now Burundi is a model of democracy that works, how can Rwanda learned by that? Is Kagame as you know him as a tyrant dictator ready to embrace democracy as Rwanda will have election next year? Do you think he will allow opposition to run freely?
Thank you.

A majority of the regimes which have committed genocide in Africa have been funded by the U.S., either directly or via the U.N./World Bank/IMF. Foreign aid goes into the pockets of regime leaders to fund war/genocide; rarely, if ever, does it reach the people in need.

Jacki needs to stop interrupting and hanging up on callers. Its impolite and rude.

On the other note, glad that the subject of genocide is getting more exposure and light.

Thank you

Thank you for the interview today with Tracy Kidder. I am reading Strength in What Remains and am so taken with how, with such a mixture of detachment and passion, he has captured me again. First time was with Mountains Beyond Mountains. I only wish I had the resources to support the needs he describes. It was a privilege and a pleasure to hear him speak.

Thank you Tracy Kidder for your hard work and trying to make a differences and the man who came back to help his people no matter the ethic group.

I hope we can learn from this and changes thing so this will not happen again.

thanks,

Gerry, in case you didn’t get the memo, the war is over and Kagame stopped it, as well as the ethnic stupidity that almost destroyed both Rwanda and Burundi. So, wake up and smell the fabulous Bourbon coffee, forget about Obama bla bla bla, go back to Rwanda and participate in African democracy by voting for who you want in 2010.

Sheila,
I am glad to live in a land of the free. Obama knows better about Rwanda than any other US President. Kagame is the only President who endorsed McKain when he sent his minister in 2008 Republican Convention. You can check youtube and see for yourself. This ethnic stuff is the invention of low IQ leaders. If you want to build your country, don’t intimidate people. You need to freeyourself first by your language. Ask the Congressman Cynthia Mckinney who was the US representative in Great Lakes. She knows better than you. As about coming, I will be there, don’t worry!!! CHANGE IS COMING. 15 years is enough for a dictator, murderer of 6000000 congolese. As for coffee, I don’t drink it, sorry!!! WE NEED CHANGE. CHANGE IS THE WAY!
RWANDA NEEDS FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN 2010 AND I PRAY FOR KAGAME departure for the sake of the entire great lakes region. RWANDA needs strong institutions not STRONGMAN.

Strangely enough, I was in Burundi in June of 2006 when Kidder and Deo were there. I’m reading chapter 4 now and am impressed with how true his depictions of Burundi are. It is a beautiful place full of beautiful people. So many want to return to the time of Amahoro. I pray that negative influences don’t disrupt the elections in 2010 and that Burundi will be able to continue its economic and emotional recovery from war. Let me also add that Burundi gets a lot of bad press with regards to the dangers there. The people of Burundi appreciate visitors. It’s the perfect vacation spot for the intrepid traveler.

“obscure country of Burundi”? That’s disgusting. How could you say something like that? What was obscure about it? Whatever it might have been I don’t see the point of being so paternalistic.

I am also outraged by the use of this word–OBSCURE— this is not only disrespectful to the people of Burundi but also degrading. Just because you or your audience do not know much about Burundi; you should not qualify the country as OBSCURE. Yes, there is poverty; yes there has been a genocide… but this term is inappropriate. Come on NPR… you know better!!!

As a supporter of NPR for a number of years, I have come to expect unbiased portrayal of facts. I demand that you apologize for degrading a people, their culture and their country. I have seen this type of portrayal used many times to refer to anything African. I am sorry but this is just wrong.

Best regards,

Very good story…still waiting for my copy to read the entire narrative. I am from Burundi and I am always impressed by my people’s ability to overreact and use straw man arguments. The story is about one individual from Burundi but the comments are all over the spectrum.
On the “obscure” comments,there is no need to pretend outrage when we have killed thousands of innocent people and still maintain unbelievably insane hatred….what we should be doing is try to find lasting solutions to our past and current problems in order to gain respect of the international community. Until then, anyone is free to call us how they see it fit.

Jean B Manirakiza,

I totally disagree with you because your arguments are substantially flawed.

First off, you say: ” no need to pretend outrage when WE have killed thousands of innocent people …” ;I don’t know if YOU, Manirakiza, have killed people; but I would like to inform you that the huge majority of people in Burundi never killed their fellow countrymen. So please take your own responsibility.

Second, the fact that some Burundian killed, does mean the country and Burundian people should be characterized as OBSCURE. Didn’t some Americans kill some Americans during the civil war? Didn’t some German kill Germans during the world wars? However not all Americans or Germans were labeled as OBSCURE nor were America and Germany labeled as OBSURE.

Lastly, I would tell you that respect starts here; and no, no, anyone is NOT free to call Burundi/Burundians “what they see fit”; anyone should characterize Burundi and Burundians as THEY ARE a respectable and generous people even when most may be poor.

Best regards,