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Posted on 01/16/2009 9:57:08 PM PST by Coleus
Donat Kubwimana escaped Rwanda in a van filled with fellow Catholic monks, all fleeing the genocide that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of their countrymen. Fifteen years later, the 44-year-old is working on his master's degree in French at Queens College in Flushing. On Thursday, he became a U.S. citizen. "I'm so lucky," Kubwimana said after being sworn in. Kubwimana's harrowing tale of survival and achievement has become an inspiration to his Flushing community. "Just his story could have an impact," Brother David Turmel, 60, said of Kubwimana's journey from a Catholic compound in Rwanda to Queens.
Kubwimana left Rwanda in 1994 after Catholic brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross from Canada fled in the face of growing violence. The remaining monks - including Kubwimana - were short on food and water. They shared what little they had with fellow Rwandans seeking refuge at the compound. Kubwimana said they were down to only a single meal a day. He led the remaining 10 brothers on a two-day trek into Zaire - which would later become the Democratic Republic of Congo. On the road, Kubwimana said he could smell the stench of dead bodies. Every time they passed a military checkpoint, Kubwimana feared he and the brothers would be killed.
"Anything could have happened," Kubwimana said. The brothers made it to Zaire safely. But the horrors continued as they saw the bodies of their countrymen who had died from disease after fleeing Rwanda. When it looked like he and another brother would be sent back to Rwanda, the Flushing congregation intervened. "He was in great danger over there," said Brother Mark Knightly, 55. In January 2003, Kubwimana arrived in Queens speaking only a little English. The Queens monks brought coats for their Rwandan brothers to the airport. But the men, accustomed to the warm African sun, refused to put them on. When they walked outside, they were shocked.
"One said, 'The air is biting my face,'" Knightly recalled. "They had never seen cold before." Today, Kubwimana lives with the Flushing brothers and is a teaching assistant at their Holy Cross High School while continuing as a student at Queens College, where he also earned a bachelor's degree in French. He said he wants to inspire others to achieve. Kubwimana rarely speaks of the genocide in Rwanda, Knightly said. "He's been through events that most of the world has never experienced," Knightly said. "We have great hopes for his success."
he was like 24 years old... what do you expect?
Bill Clinton was 24 in 1994? You are nuts, now go back to the hispanic scouting thread I posted.
I forgot... Bill was the first “black” president.... I had my common sense screwed on too tightly....
Bill was testing out a new cigar case....
He had to have been at least 35 in 1992 when he was elected to his first term.
I just watched Hotel Rawanda Last night.
The saddest part is the state department spokeswoman for the Clinton administration:
Reporter: We have word that genocide is happening in Rawanda.
spokeswoman: Yes, we have word that acts of genocide have happened in Rawanda.
Reporter: Exactly how many acts of genocide does the aministration need to label what is going on there as genocide (frustation was heavy in his voice..or was it sarcasm?).
.
When Obambi creates the “Reparations” to pay-off the American Blacks, I submit that the beneficiaries accepting the “Reparatioins” should be required to renounce their American citizenship and be given repatriation to the African nation of their choice.
American Blacks should be blessing the God of Heaven that they were born here, and not in Africa.
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