BY ARIEL LUMBARD
Tribal warfare, death, genocide, torture, salvation, hope, faith and forgiveness – these are the words that describe the world of Immaculée, whose story was told at a community dialogue in Lakeway last Thursday.
The dialogue was sponsored by the Lake Travis Reads program and began with a screening of the “Diary of Immaculée” documentary at Emmaus Catholic Church.
The documentary followed issues also brought up in Lake Travis Reads’ selected book, “This Voice in My Heart,” by Austin resident Gilbert Tuhabonye.
Tuhabonye’s book tells of how strong faith helped him survive tragic circumstances in Burundi during the Tutsi-Hutu conflict.
“His faith was very strong, and that’s why it’s so appropriate that we come together in a faith-based discussion, in a non-denominational way,” Lake Travis Reads Chairwoman Kathy Albert said.
The dialogue’s panel included Father Samuel Hose of Emmaus, Dr. Andrew Dearman of the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Paul Tiah and Johnson Doe of the African Society of Austin.
Hose introduced the documentary, telling the audience that he was very moved by the documentary’s focus on the Rwandan woman who chose to forgive when most would seek vengeance.
“The theme of forgiveness in this world is often a very difficult one and often a very misunderstood one,” he said.
The film brought up very visceral feelings to Hose, including anger and a desire to get even, he said.
“I think the important thing to note there is I know very often people will come to me dealing with the question of forgiveness, and they feel guilty because they’ve been angry,” he said.
He noted that it was important to understand that Immaculée went through those feelings too, but ultimately decided to forgive.
“I was taken with Immaculée’s capacity for reconciliation – being able to make peace with the brother of the man who killed her brother,” Hose said.
Following the documentary, Dearman said that the audience should have been appalled and horrified – but not surprised by what it saw.
“As horrible as those circumstances where, all of us can point to other places in God’s world at certain times and certain places where things like that have happened,” he said.
Hose also said that the issues brought up about Africa in the dialogue are important in many places.
“It’s important to recognize that the things we talk about happening in Africa also happen here,” he said.
People tend to ignore that though, Hose said, mentioning an experience he had as a member of a group of community leaders working towards establishing racial harmony in Austin.
“It became extremely controversial, because the argument was we have no problems here,” he said.
When it comes to faith, Doe spoke of how it can help one survive difficult situations, and told an analogous story of an old man who ran into a pack of teenage killers.
The man responds to the teenagers’ threats by telling God, “You take a long time to react!
“Lord, when will you answer me? You are pretending like you don’t hear me, but you hear me, I am speaking to you, try to save me right now!”
The man’s faith led to a “miracle,” Doe said, as the teenagers were so humored by the man that they decided to spare him.
It was by the will of God that Doe and Tiah were able to survive, according to Tiah, who said they survived so that they could do what Immaculée did.
“It’s for us to be able to go back home and tell our people that what has happened has happened,” he said. “But it shouldn’t be repeated.”
As part of that mission, the two men co-founded the African Society of Austin, which works towards the goal of reconciliation amongst refugees, like that established between Doe and Tiah themselves.
The two men came from different areas of Liberia – areas mired past conflicts.
“But then we are best friends in America,” Doe said.
Ultimately, the story of Immaculée was one of forgiveness and reconciliation, as she learned to forgive those that participated in the brutal slaughter of her family, while not forgetting.
People should not forget whatever has happened to them – but should focus instead on growing from the experience, Hose said.
“What we should do is forgive, and accept forgiveness and learn and grow,” he said. “And if we can grow, than we can come to forgive ourselves as well.”