Something to think about
Last night, someone suggested: "Rwanda is the Israel of East Africa." They then said that I'd probably have something to say about this [fairly common] comparison.
Astute observation, my friend.
Now I've never been a fan of these sorts of meta-contextual comparisons, they're not particularly conducive to any real understanding or creative thinking (although they can get pretty creative: "Palestinians are the Jews of the Middle East" or "Arabs are the new Russians" and have they decided whether Iraq was their WWII or their Vietnam?). But I want to entertain the thought, just for a post, and see what happens...
I’ve actually been considering this relationship for some time now, ever since I met a few Israeli military consultants at a bar here, trying to cultivate an aura of mystery as they did an intentionally terrible job at dodging my questions about their work: "I, uh, consult on water issues. I'm afraid I can't tell you any more" (or if I did, I'd have to kill you). Thankfully, the head of their little mission here is an older lady that doesn't entertain elaborate spy fantasies and is more open about their not-so-top-secret work: training the Rwandan military to use computer programs developed by the IDF, to which Rwanda has bought exclusive rights in Africa.
But I digress….
Now we all know that "Israel is an island of Democracy in a Sea of Dictatorships [common variations: Civilization/ Barbarism; Enlightenment/ Dark Ages; Jews/Gentiles; whiteness/ darkness; purity/impurity; fearlessness/ cowardice; sexiness/ unsexiness... or read the Jerusalem Post for further inspiration]. But I think that the Rwanda - Israel comparison is usually made with different characteristics in mind (although my sexiness vote goes to Tanzania).
Here is, roughly, what it refers to: Rwanda is a tiny country in a sea of … large ones. Compared to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, which if put in the right hands could become one of the most powerful states in Africa, Rwanda doesn’t really have any natural resources (unless you count the 300 gorillas). But it does have the most powerful military, the most expansive intelligence network, and a ruthless reputation. This one, small country can destabilize the entire Great Lakes region, and has in fact repeatedly done so. The RPF started in exile, working alliances with various leaderships of the more powerful countries in the region (Uganda, Kenya), training with their armies.
More importantly, however, is the whole victims-turned-Victors phenomenon leading to entitled unilateralism, and the use of the inalienable right to victimhood to silence all criticism and reject all compromise. (“Where were YOU in ’94?”). The world looked away while Tutsis (and moderate Hutus) were being massacred, and the genocide was only put to a halt by the RPF’s invasion. The government is understandably resentful of anyone telling them how to run things now that it’s all over. “Never Again”.... (for us!).
This identification is apparently not lost on Israelis, as the Mossad has trained the RPF and is currently training the army, and it is generally acknowledge that the relations between the two are quite warm.
But let’s not tiptoe around the subject, and follow this comparison to its logical conclusion: If the RPF-state is like the Israeli state, founding itself through force, against all odds and putting an end to their exile, then that would mean that the Hutus are the… Palestinians?
I mean come on, so many of the elements are there: The demographic “ticking bomb”, the refugee population, the constant existential threat, the reliance on a strong military for survival, the return from exile… We can also throw in an element of “indigenousness”, as the Tutsis are often portrayed, in popular histories, as a “settler population” that came south to “civilize” the Bantu population somewhere in the 17th century. [See Mahmood Mamdani for an excellent critique of this]
This is my point about such comparisons. They just don’t work, and they’re dangerous. They’ve ruined my evenings on several occasions.
Surely someone can see how easily this whole thing can be turned right around? The Palestinians have never attempted genocide or ethnic cleansing of the Israelis, if anything, it is the other way round. The Tutsi refugees who fled persecution in the late fifties and had been living in exile ever since, organizing themselves into an organized militant group with aspirations of return –that sounds like the PLO. Then the “returnee” phenomenon, our freedom fighters in exile returning and changing the whole dynamic of the liberation movement, overshadowing the efforts of those who stayed on the inside and then claiming to be their sole representatives despite a very different set of experiences – shit, that sounds like the PA. Then there are the various academics and politicians writing to find a solution to the “Tutsi Problem”, advocating their “relocation” to a neighboring country with similar cultural, linguistic and ethnic characters - Now that’s just good old fashioned Zionist Transfer-Speak!
I was at the Commission on Unity and National Reconciliation the other day, trying to get a permit to visit the work camps. I ended up shooting the breeze the head of one of the divisions who is among this “returnee” population, and who seemed really excited to speak to a real, live (alive) Palestinian. "When I was young and joined the resistance in Uganda they used to give us a lot of homework, and we had to read about and learn from other people's struggles. I was made to read about Palestine, South Africa and Lenin. I had to read your history from 3000 years ago until the 1967.” So apparently his commander also found inspiration (or maybe lessons about what NOT to do?) in my people’s case.
So what I’m saying is, lay off the Middle East comparisons, they’re not helpful. Sure, there are plenty of similarities. Like I said, I am somewhat guilty of this myself as I was trying to put my finger on what it was about Rwandan politicians and attitudes towards their neighbors that reminded me of Israel’s.
"But tell me" said my friend at the commission, "will there ever be a solution to you guys' problems, there?" If I had a penny for every time a Rwandan asked me this... and for everytime i stopped myself from replying "I don't know, will there ever be one to yours?"
But then I just tell myself we’re all just trying to make ourselves feel better by looking at the next in line in the "Seriously Fucked Up" section of the world's nations.
But hey, at least our ambassadors aren't getting caught naked except for the S&M gear they're tied up with by the local police!
Astute observation, my friend.
Now I've never been a fan of these sorts of meta-contextual comparisons, they're not particularly conducive to any real understanding or creative thinking (although they can get pretty creative: "Palestinians are the Jews of the Middle East" or "Arabs are the new Russians" and have they decided whether Iraq was their WWII or their Vietnam?). But I want to entertain the thought, just for a post, and see what happens...
I’ve actually been considering this relationship for some time now, ever since I met a few Israeli military consultants at a bar here, trying to cultivate an aura of mystery as they did an intentionally terrible job at dodging my questions about their work: "I, uh, consult on water issues. I'm afraid I can't tell you any more" (or if I did, I'd have to kill you). Thankfully, the head of their little mission here is an older lady that doesn't entertain elaborate spy fantasies and is more open about their not-so-top-secret work: training the Rwandan military to use computer programs developed by the IDF, to which Rwanda has bought exclusive rights in Africa.
But I digress….
Now we all know that "Israel is an island of Democracy in a Sea of Dictatorships [common variations: Civilization/ Barbarism; Enlightenment/ Dark Ages; Jews/Gentiles; whiteness/ darkness; purity/impurity; fearlessness/ cowardice; sexiness/ unsexiness... or read the Jerusalem Post for further inspiration]. But I think that the Rwanda - Israel comparison is usually made with different characteristics in mind (although my sexiness vote goes to Tanzania).
Here is, roughly, what it refers to: Rwanda is a tiny country in a sea of … large ones. Compared to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, which if put in the right hands could become one of the most powerful states in Africa, Rwanda doesn’t really have any natural resources (unless you count the 300 gorillas). But it does have the most powerful military, the most expansive intelligence network, and a ruthless reputation. This one, small country can destabilize the entire Great Lakes region, and has in fact repeatedly done so. The RPF started in exile, working alliances with various leaderships of the more powerful countries in the region (Uganda, Kenya), training with their armies.
More importantly, however, is the whole victims-turned-Victors phenomenon leading to entitled unilateralism, and the use of the inalienable right to victimhood to silence all criticism and reject all compromise. (“Where were YOU in ’94?”). The world looked away while Tutsis (and moderate Hutus) were being massacred, and the genocide was only put to a halt by the RPF’s invasion. The government is understandably resentful of anyone telling them how to run things now that it’s all over. “Never Again”.... (for us!).
This identification is apparently not lost on Israelis, as the Mossad has trained the RPF and is currently training the army, and it is generally acknowledge that the relations between the two are quite warm.
But let’s not tiptoe around the subject, and follow this comparison to its logical conclusion: If the RPF-state is like the Israeli state, founding itself through force, against all odds and putting an end to their exile, then that would mean that the Hutus are the… Palestinians?
I mean come on, so many of the elements are there: The demographic “ticking bomb”, the refugee population, the constant existential threat, the reliance on a strong military for survival, the return from exile… We can also throw in an element of “indigenousness”, as the Tutsis are often portrayed, in popular histories, as a “settler population” that came south to “civilize” the Bantu population somewhere in the 17th century. [See Mahmood Mamdani for an excellent critique of this]
This is my point about such comparisons. They just don’t work, and they’re dangerous. They’ve ruined my evenings on several occasions.
Surely someone can see how easily this whole thing can be turned right around? The Palestinians have never attempted genocide or ethnic cleansing of the Israelis, if anything, it is the other way round. The Tutsi refugees who fled persecution in the late fifties and had been living in exile ever since, organizing themselves into an organized militant group with aspirations of return –that sounds like the PLO. Then the “returnee” phenomenon, our freedom fighters in exile returning and changing the whole dynamic of the liberation movement, overshadowing the efforts of those who stayed on the inside and then claiming to be their sole representatives despite a very different set of experiences – shit, that sounds like the PA. Then there are the various academics and politicians writing to find a solution to the “Tutsi Problem”, advocating their “relocation” to a neighboring country with similar cultural, linguistic and ethnic characters - Now that’s just good old fashioned Zionist Transfer-Speak!
I was at the Commission on Unity and National Reconciliation the other day, trying to get a permit to visit the work camps. I ended up shooting the breeze the head of one of the divisions who is among this “returnee” population, and who seemed really excited to speak to a real, live (alive) Palestinian. "When I was young and joined the resistance in Uganda they used to give us a lot of homework, and we had to read about and learn from other people's struggles. I was made to read about Palestine, South Africa and Lenin. I had to read your history from 3000 years ago until the 1967.” So apparently his commander also found inspiration (or maybe lessons about what NOT to do?) in my people’s case.
So what I’m saying is, lay off the Middle East comparisons, they’re not helpful. Sure, there are plenty of similarities. Like I said, I am somewhat guilty of this myself as I was trying to put my finger on what it was about Rwandan politicians and attitudes towards their neighbors that reminded me of Israel’s.
"But tell me" said my friend at the commission, "will there ever be a solution to you guys' problems, there?" If I had a penny for every time a Rwandan asked me this... and for everytime i stopped myself from replying "I don't know, will there ever be one to yours?"
But then I just tell myself we’re all just trying to make ourselves feel better by looking at the next in line in the "Seriously Fucked Up" section of the world's nations.
But hey, at least our ambassadors aren't getting caught naked except for the S&M gear they're tied up with by the local police!
posted by Diala at 9:16 AM
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