Thank you for writing to me. I learned very interesting facts. I am jealous of how you get to live here because you were born here in the United States. My father is in prison because of the Hutus because they think he helped the enemy. My mother and sister are dead and my brother is staying with me in the shelter. The Red Cross helps us a lot. We don't have clean water and the shelter is only temporary. My dreams for me and my brother are to be reunited with my father, but because the judicial system is limited I'll probably never see him again. I hope you decide to write back and tell me about life in America.
Sincerely,
Malik
Dear Malik,
We hope this letter reaches you. We feel really bad that you have to live the way you described. I can't believe the way the Hutus treated the Tutsis. Life here in the United States is very different from life in Rwanda. In the United States we control the government. There is no unorganized fighting or killing here in the States like there is in Rwanda. It is horrible how many people have been killed in Rwanda. It is a shame that all the bodies were left in the churches, swamps, lakes, and houses. It is horrible how when you walk out of your house you have to worry about being killed or when you go to school the threat of being hurt. But we do have violence and discrimination here, in spite of our laws.
It sounds like even though you have a president, prime minister, and a vice president your military general is basically ruling the people by force not by freedom of choice. We elect the person we think is the best choice to govern us for four years. We can depend on our government to take care of us. Your government is called a junta, which means that your military controls the government and the Rwandan people. We are pretty lucky to be able to express our opinions freely. We hope one day your life will improve and you can live in peace without the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis. Thank you for the opportunity to write to you and learn about your government.
Sincerely,
Mike, Sarah
I., Meghan H., Katie M., Dave H.
Source: Source: Human Rights Report: http://www.usis.it/hr_reps/c_index.htm
Newsweek. August 1, 1994 "A Race with Death." pg. 26-32
Time Magazine. May 16,1994 "The Killing Fields of Rwanda." pp. 56-63.
Time Magazine. August 1,1994 "Cry The Forsaken Country." pp. 28-37.
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