Deborah Lipstadt: Rwanda: A new form of genocide denial
On January 27th there will be a panel at Emory University regarding Rwanda genocide denial. These deniers cannot, of course, deny that the killings took place but they try to depict them as the "normal" course of business in Rwanda.
The mantra of these deniers is: Tutsis have been killing Hutus for years. This was an example of the Hutus striking back.
Other than simply being incorrect, this mantra essentially blames the victims for their own brutal deaths. What will surprise most readers of this blog -- it certainly surprised me -- is that one of the people who has been most active in spreading this form of denial is Paul Rusesabagina.
If his name does not ring a bell, think Hotel Rwanda. He is the central character. He is speaking on college campuses, including Emory and serious scholars in many fields are deeply worried. At Emory these scholars include people who worked in Rwanda for years prior to the genocide and who witnessed the horrors up close.
This is not simply a matter of historical revisionism but also an attempt to destabilize the current government of Rwanda which has, apparently, made tremendous strides in creating stability and reinvigorating the economy.
On January 27th there will be a high powered panel to address this issue:
Beyond Hollywood’s Rwanda: Truth and Justice, Security and Development
Location: Glenn Memorial Auditorium, Emory University
Time: Tuesday, Nov. 27 6-8 PM
Participants:
Andrew Young Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and Mayor of Atlanta, Chairman, Goodworks Intl
James Kimonyo Rwandan Ambassador to the U.S.
Deborah E. Lipstadt Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies
Egide Karuranga Virginia State University Professor, Genocide survivor at the Hotel des
Miles Collines
Gregory S. Gordon University of North Dakota Law Professor, Former legal Officer for International Criminal Court Tribunal for Rwanda
Jeffrey Richter Senior Historian, US Department of Justice Office of Special Investigations
Limited Seating. Free Tickets available at DUC information desk, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory School of Law, and other Atlanta locations.
Details at
www.rzhrg.org
Ticketing Information:
http://www.rzhrg.org/Ticketing_information.pdf
Read entire article at Lipsdadt blog
The mantra of these deniers is: Tutsis have been killing Hutus for years. This was an example of the Hutus striking back.
Other than simply being incorrect, this mantra essentially blames the victims for their own brutal deaths. What will surprise most readers of this blog -- it certainly surprised me -- is that one of the people who has been most active in spreading this form of denial is Paul Rusesabagina.
If his name does not ring a bell, think Hotel Rwanda. He is the central character. He is speaking on college campuses, including Emory and serious scholars in many fields are deeply worried. At Emory these scholars include people who worked in Rwanda for years prior to the genocide and who witnessed the horrors up close.
This is not simply a matter of historical revisionism but also an attempt to destabilize the current government of Rwanda which has, apparently, made tremendous strides in creating stability and reinvigorating the economy.
On January 27th there will be a high powered panel to address this issue:
Beyond Hollywood’s Rwanda: Truth and Justice, Security and Development
Location: Glenn Memorial Auditorium, Emory University
Time: Tuesday, Nov. 27 6-8 PM
Participants:
Andrew Young Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and Mayor of Atlanta, Chairman, Goodworks Intl
James Kimonyo Rwandan Ambassador to the U.S.
Deborah E. Lipstadt Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies
Egide Karuranga Virginia State University Professor, Genocide survivor at the Hotel des
Miles Collines
Gregory S. Gordon University of North Dakota Law Professor, Former legal Officer for International Criminal Court Tribunal for Rwanda
Jeffrey Richter Senior Historian, US Department of Justice Office of Special Investigations
Limited Seating. Free Tickets available at DUC information desk, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory School of Law, and other Atlanta locations.
Details at
www.rzhrg.org
Ticketing Information:
http://www.rzhrg.org/Ticketing_information.pdf