THE POWER OF WORDS

Dayton Daily News , OH
Feb 21 2007

Words kill. They also save lives.

In Rwanda in 1994, journalist Thomas Kamilindi refused to say hurtful
words – to call his neighbors, friends and even his own family
cockroaches and worse – over the radio. But others did, inflaming
ethnic hatred that led to thousands of death.

Later Kamilindi found himself at the side of Paul Rusesabagina in what
we know from the movies as the "Hotel Rwanda." (Thomas explained to
me that this name is quite correct. Rwanda is known for its beautiful
hilly countryside. In the Rwandan language, the word Rwanda means
"miles of hills" and in French, the Hotel des Milles Collines also
literally means "hotel of miles of hills.")

It was Kamilindi’s words in a telephone interview with a radio station
in France that alerted the world to the desperate state of affairs
both at the hotel and in Rwanda in general.

And it was Rusesabagina’s words – his amazing powers of persuasion –
that dissuaded soldiers who came to kill Kamilindi, just one of many
examples of Resesabagina’s repeated courageous conversations in which
he cajoled, threatened, begged, flattered and reasoned with killers
to save lives.

I met Thomas in 2005 through the Knight Wallace Journalism
Fellowship. He participated in the fellowship the year after I did,
in his case through a special endowment intended to help journalists
around the world who’s lives are in danger. He’s now been granted
political asylum in the U.S. and lives in Michigan.

When we saw each other in September, I invited him to Dayton for
Rusesagabina’s lecture Tuesday at the University of Dayton. (Follow
the links for my colleague Stephanie Irwin’s stories about their
reunion and Rusesbagina’s speech)

To both men, speech is an important freedom and a responsibility to
be taken seriously. Rusesabagina urged his listeners to use their
words for good and to make peace. He believes even in Rwanda there
can be peace, if only the warring Hutu and Tutsi tribes could sit
around the table and talk.

For journalists, the responsibility is great, and in many places
around the world, reporting the truth brings with it real danger. I
wrote recently about the Turkish journalist Hrant Dink’s murder for
speaking out about the Armenian genocide in that country.

Thomas, who also met Dink through the Knight-Wallace program, said
he is haunted by the thought of Dink dying of a gunshot in the very
doorway to his office that Thomas crossed to meet him.

After the hotel experience, Thomas sent his family to Belgium but
stayed in Rwanda training journalists in hopes of bringing change there
until it became too dangerous. Today, he works with Rusesabagina to
advocate for peace there from exile.

Rusesabagina, Dink and Kamilindi are men of conviction and courage.

We should all learn the lessons they preach – think before you speak,
but say the truth when it needs to be said.