Faustin L. Kanuma retweetledi
I grew up around people who read and discussed what they were reading. In those discussions we often disagreed. Yet, there is no need to call names, impugn motives, and advocate for violence.
Yesterday, I shared an an interview of Joseph Kabila in the New York Times. My NYT subscription allows me to give 10 articles away each month so friends and family can read them freely through the paywall.
On X / Twitter my post got lots of traction. Many retweeted it. Many affirmed sharing articles. I recognize good people have a wide range of opinions on Joseph Kabila and contemporary politics in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s ok to have a wide range of perspectives on a situation as complicated as the DRC.
Yet, as happens almost every time I share anything where Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC governance issues are discussed, the haters came out. Names were called. Motives were impugned. Violence was excused.
Each time that happens convinces me that genocide ideology is still alive. That is inexcusable.
A few Scriptures come to mind:
Matthew 5:21-22. New International Version
Murder
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of
Matthew 15:18-20. New International Version
18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them
James 3:5-12. New International Version
5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Friends and Family,
We really do have a deep spiritual problem at the root of the violence in the eastern DRC. The vile comments confirm the depth of this depravity.
God, have mercy
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