Hotel Rwanda Human Rights Violations

In today’s increasingly interconnected and globalized world, it is easier than ever to determine whether countries are engaging in gross violations of human rights. The information revolution and other media platforms allow individuals to view violations of human rights occurring in countries on the other side of the world. When violations of human rights become evident, it begs the question whether ethical nations should intervene in the violating countries and restore order, or whether such an intervention is an infringement on state sovereignty. Such violations also bring to light the role of the United Nations, and can help evidence whether the United Nations is an effective medium for addressing these violations. The Rwandan Genocide in
Hotel Rwanda opens with a voiceover by George Rutaganda, an Interhamwe leader, on the radio that says: “When people ask me, good listeners, why do I hate the Tutsi, I say, read out history…They are cockroaches. They are murderers. Rwanda is our Hutu land” (George 2004). This detestation of the Tutsi people manifests itself in the genocide. In Shake Hands With the Devil, General Dallaire describes the brutality of the genocide by describing streets littered with Tutsi bodies that were stacked like potatoes and being eaten by dogs (Raymont 2005). In Hotel Rwanda the atrocities are on full display, with scenes like Rusesabagina driving on a road littered with dead bodies and with the Red Cross volunteer detailing the Hutu plan to kill Tutsi children to wipe out the next generation. Another shocking scene was when Rusesabagina met with Rutaganda, and Rutaganda earnestly expressed a desire to kill every single Tutsi. When justifying intervention, theorist Michael Walzer looks towards events that shock the collective conscience of mankind. To any individual paying remote attention to Rwanda, these atrocities would certainly shock his or her conscience. Both movies demonstrate that the Rwandan Genocide was one of the worst perpetrations of human rights violations since the Holocaust, and an event that provided significant justification for
The journalist that Paul explains the necessity of Western intervention to attempts to forewarn Paul of Western indifference, by saying: “I think if people see this footage they’ll say, ‘oh my God that’s horrible,’ and then go on eating their dinners” (George 2004). This journalist understands that while powerful nations will superficially acknowledge a terrible event is occurring, in reality they will not care enough to actually aid the Tutsi people. Rusesabagina begins to understand this reality when the United Nation sends a convoy to the hotel solely to evacuate foreign nationals and none of the refugees. After this moment, Colonel Oliver also becomes disappointed that no one will intervene, but he comprehends the reason why the international community is failing Rwanda, and explains it to Rusesabagina by saying: “They think you’re dirty. They think you’re dumb. You’re worthless….you’re black. You’re not even a nigger. You’re an African” (George 2004). Colonel Olliver attempts to explain this international failure to uphold human rights to Paul by saying the Western nations simply do not value the lives of an African enough to intervene. This is further evidenced by United States’ state representatives admitting acts of genocide occurred, but refusing to call it a genocide, as such a recognition