An Ordinary Man Analysis

One cannot fight fire with fire. While massacre reigns in Rwanda and people take betrayal to the extreme, Paul Rusesabagina in his book, An Ordinary Man, proofs how violence is unnecessary while standing against the power of the word. As Rusesabagina states, words are “powerful tools of life”(Rusesabagina, 19). The war between the two different ethnic groups, Hutus and Tutsis, and the death of thousands left a mark Rwanda’s memory; the author says: “It is the darkest bead on our national necklace” (222). Even though a large part of Rwanda’s population is massacred, many are saved by one of Rwanda’s timeless heroes. Paul Rusesabagina, as a humble hotel manager, uses negotiation and dedication to save the life of thousand Rwandans. He sheltered

My job never changed, even in a sea of fire” (246). With that being said, Paul did not charge any amount of money to them and also provided them food, water and rooms. One is able to notice how Tutsis and Hutus share shelter during the worst times of the massacre, when outside the hotel this bonds would have been impossible to strengthen. The Hotel Millie Collines represents a safe haven to its residents; Rusesabagina says: “ I cannot say that life was normal inside that crowded building, but what I saw in there convinced me that ordinary human beings are born with an extraordinary ability to fight evil with decency” (138). This supports the idea that the hotel is the only place in Rwanda where integrity can be

However, Paul Rusesabagina teaches us that one must never underestimate the power of being well intentioned and kindhearted. It would have been easy for him to escape the hotel with his family and leave those thousands unknown Rwandans behind. The author explains, “ A sad truth of human nature is that it is hard to care for the people when they are abstractions, hard to care when it is not you or somebody close to you” (235). That is why one of the most valuable lessons one can take from reading An Ordinary Man is that one should always try one’s best to put ethnical, racial and economical differences aside to do what is our power to lend a hand. The author explains: “We cannot change the past, but we can improve the future with the limited tools and words that we have been given”(230). Paul Rusesabagina’s story shows the world how an ordinary man with the right tools is capable of doing extraordinary