Paul Rusesabagina
Paul Rusesabagina
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Paul Rusesabagina's full name is Paul Kagame Rusesabagina. He is often referred to as the "Hotel Rwanda hero" due to his bravery during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on June 15, 1954, in Gitarama, Rwanda (then a Belgian colony), Rusesabagina passed away on February 29, 2021, at the age of 66. He succumbed to COVID-19 complications while in custody in Dubai.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Rusesabagina was a Rwandan national and held various roles throughout his life, including:
Hotel manager
Diplomat (he served as the Minister for Refugee Affairs in the Rwandan government-in-exile)
Humanitarian workerEarly Life and Background
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Paul Rusesabagina's early years were marked by turmoil. His father was a Hutu, while his mother was a Tutsi. This mixed heritage would later influence his actions during the genocide. Growing up in Rwanda, he witnessed the country's growing ethnic tensions.
Rusesabagina began his career as a hotel manager at the Hôtel des Mille Collines (Hotel of a Thousand Hills) in Kigali. His experience in the hospitality industry would eventually serve him well in protecting over 1,000 refugees during the genocide.
Major Accomplishments
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During the Rwandan genocide, Rusesabagina's hotel became a sanctuary for those fleeing the violence. He worked tirelessly to secure food, water, and medical supplies for the refugees while also negotiating with the Hutu militia to spare their lives. His bravery earned him international recognition:
In 2004, Rusesabagina was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.
He received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his service.Notable Works or Actions
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Rusesabagina's life has been documented in various films and books:
Hotel Rwanda (2004), a film starring Don Cheadle as Rusesabagina, brought international attention to the genocide.
He wrote his memoirs, _An Ordinary Man_, which details his experiences during the genocide.Impact and Legacy
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Rusesabagina's actions during the Rwandan genocide have had a lasting impact:
His bravery inspired countless others to work towards peace and human rights.
The international community has taken steps to prevent similar atrocities from occurring, including the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
Rusesabagina's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, courage, and resilience in the face of unimaginable horror.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Paul Rusesabagina is widely remembered and quoted for his extraordinary acts of bravery during the Rwandan genocide. His selflessness and determination to protect others have left an indelible mark on human history:
"The only thing that I could do was try to save as many lives as possible." (On protecting refugees at the Hôtel des Mille Collines)
"I would like people to remember me as a man who helped to change the world, even if it's just in a small way."
His legacy continues to inspire generations to come.
Quotes by Paul Rusesabagina
If you stay friendly with monsters you can find cracks in their armor to exploit. Shut them out and they can kill you without a second thought. I reminded myself of this over and over.
It always bothers me when I hear Rwanda’s genocide described as a product of “ancient tribal hatreds.” I think this is an easy way for Westerners to dismiss the whole thing as a regrettable but pointless bloodbath that happens to primitive brown people.
Pastors started killing their church members and church members killed pastors. Husbands killed wives. It’s a situation no one can describe.
If anybody tried to threaten me I would simply look him in the eye and ask him in a firm but friendly voice, “Why?” The bully would have no choice but to engage me verbally, and this made violence next to impossible. I learned that it is very difficult to fight someone with whom you are already talking.
This is why I say that the individual’s most potent weapon is a stubborn belief in the triumph of common decency.
I think I’m a happy man, and I’m a blessed man. I have been able to adjust to any situation, whatever it was, in my life.
Our days are so few, our existences so complicated. As long as we’re breathing we shouldn’t further complicate our lives.
If we want to change things, we must first change ourselves. If we want to play – if we want to change the world – we must first show up on the field to score.
I think I'm a happy man, and I'm a blessed man. I have been able to adjust to any situation, whatever it was, in my life.
Facts are almost irrelevant to most people. We make decisions based on emotion and then justify them later with whatever facts we can scrounge up in our defense.