On our campus it is impossible to avoid the activism of our generation. The urge to affect change emanates from our student population, but I am convinced we are still just scratching at the surface of our potential. There are moments of inspiring commitment in our society that we allow to simply pass under our radar. It took one of the most courageous activists of our times to make me realize this.
I found myself at a small restaurant in the North Loop of Chicago after hearing that a prominent Rwandan activist would be speaking. There I heard about three awe-inspiring efforts to bring aid, comfort and love to the many orphans and widows, results of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The works of Christina Dyer, Ben and Melody Pahlow, Providence Rubingisa and Paul Rusesabagina left me in tears by the end of the night.
The program opened with a video by Christina Dyer, a stay-at-home mother of three and freelance photographer with a master's degree in psychology. Christina traveled to Rwanda to capture images of a fleeting population and a battered country. Her work in Chicago as a photographer — often taking luxurious pictures of babies at three-month intervals — suddenly came into perspective and she realized her opportunities elsewhere. Her intentions were to take pictures of Rwandan children and instantly print them for mothers and families to keep. Unable to combat the hospital administration that would not allow her to take pictures of the patients, her mission began to evolve. Because Christina had gone to Rwanda with Global Family Rescue, she continued to travel through villages and work on the projects they were establishing for families. Alongside these efforts, Christina would help handfuls of men, women and children see themselves digitally for the first time.
It is difficult to describe how these children and women reacted to seeing their faces in digital image for the first time. Christina's video consists of the reactions of villagers seeing images of themselves reproduced on an LCD screen that faced them. The concentration of examining the contraption that is filming them turns to cautious but innocent grins, embracing their own electronic images. Christina's simplest of efforts is translated into a flurry of messages, directives and missions for those of us fortunate enough to laugh at the thought of never seeing oneself in a camera. It is difficult to hold a preaching tongue at a moment like this, but I can only hope we all pause and imagine the wonder Christina's project inspired in the villagers. The impracticality of giving these villages instant pictures of themselves is dwarfed by the bridge Christina has built from their world to ours.
Christina's journey depended on the successful NGO "Global Family Rescue," which invited her along for their June 2005 trip. Ben and Melody Pahlow of Peoria, Ill., founded Global Family Rescue, a nonprofit organization to help the many widows and orphans of the 1994 genocide. GFR's projects range from establishing potable water, agricultural reform, raising pigs and erosion protection. Christina's video went on to include the projects of the American men, women and children working to make GFR's projects a reality.
Activism in America is seen as one of two things — too hard or too ineffectual to matter. Why take the time to sacrifice personal happiness when the mundane is so easily attainable? Study abroad is no longer an opportunity to connect with other cultures, but an opportunity to see how well we look in ethnic clothes or chic bars. We fill our minds with rhetoric about how much we are learning but stop short of honestly facing our capacity to help. "Cultural relativism" in its most rudimentary level somehow means that we, as Americans, cannot possibly presume our responsibility for the public wellbeing of others. Our minds suffocate our hearts.
Paul Rusesabagina spent the entirety of his speech entreating the help of the audience and Americans in general. He made no mention of arrogance or pride but simply compassion and love.
There may be a reason that his speech was short and vague. It seems Mr. Russesabagina has had numerous threats on his life for his actions during the genocide in Rwanda and is unable to speak critically in public. Mr. Rusesabagina inspired the role played by Don Cheadle in "Hotel Rwanda" and has continued to motivate fellow global citizens to act against the atrocities he survived. Mr. Russesabagina came to speak about his experience in Rwanda and support Chicago activists working to aid the cause of stability. He has sacrificed personal stability for the greater good, and I can only hope his fortitude, and that of Christina and the Pahlow couple inspire — if not our generation — the generations to come.
Suzanne Zoheri (smzoheri@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in history and global cultures.