Peace, Unity and Justice in the Society
Senior 6 · General and Religious Studies
Peace, Unity and Justice in the Society
Lesson 3 of 5
24 min
Every April, during Kwibuka, the national commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, many survivors relive painful memories, and health workers and counsellors are on hand at commemoration events to support people in crisis. Peace in a country, it turns out, is tied to peace inside each person. A wounded heart can find it hard to trust, and a society of wounded hearts can find it hard to unite.
This lesson examines the obstacles that stand in the way of inner peace, unity and justice. Some are inside us, such as resentment and fear. Some are between us, such as prejudice and genocide ideology. Some are built into systems, such as corruption. Naming them is the first step to removing them.
Definition
Trauma: deep psychological injury caused by a terrible event, which can bring nightmares, fear, anger or numbness long afterwards.
Resentment: lasting bitterness towards someone who has done wrong.
Prejudice: a judgement about a person formed in advance, because of the group they belong to.
Genocide ideology: in Rwandan law, an act done in public that "manifests an ideology that supports or advocates for destroying, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group" (Law N° 59 of 2018, Article 4).
Genocide denial: saying publicly that a genocide did not happen, or minimising or justifying it.
Corruption: abuse of entrusted power for private gain, such as giving or taking a bribe.
Impunity: escaping punishment for a crime.
| Obstacle | How it robs peace | What the sacred books say |
|---|---|---|
| Guilt and hidden wrongdoing | A person who hides a wrong lives with fear and shame | "He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (Proverbs 28:13) |
| Resentment and unforgiveness | Bitterness keeps the wound open and spreads to others | "lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you" (Hebrews 12:15); "Don't let the sun go down on your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26) |
| Fear and anxiety | Constant worry crowds out calm and trust | "In nothing be anxious … And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts" (Philippians 4:6–7); "Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!" (13:28) |
| Trauma | Memories of violence return unbidden and disturb sleep, work and relationships | Both faiths call communities to comfort the suffering; healing usually also needs professional care |
| Greed, envy and substance abuse | Desire is never satisfied; alcohol and drugs numb pain but deepen it | "Love doesn't envy" (1 Corinthians 13:4) |
Figure 1 shows why the three kinds of obstacle are linked. An injustice causes pain; unhealed pain becomes a wish for revenge; revenge creates a new injustice, and the cycle turns again, sometimes for generations. The cycle can be broken at three points: justice, so that wrongs are punished fairly and victims need not take revenge themselves; healing, so that pain does not harden into hatred; and forgiveness, the choice not to repay evil with evil. The next lesson studies repentance and reconciliation, the most demanding of these.
Worked example: analysing an obstacle to justice
In an imaginary sector, a land officer asks a widow for 50,000 Frw "to speed up" the transfer of her late husband's land into her name. She cannot pay, and the file is delayed for months while a richer neighbour's file is approved in a week.
Identify. This is corruption (a bribe demanded) and discrimination against the poor, both obstacles to justice.
Effects. The widow's right to property is denied; trust in public institutions falls; resentment grows, an obstacle to unity and to her inner peace.
Responses. She can report it to the Office of the Ombudsman or to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (166); demanding a bribe is an offence under Law N° 54 of 2018. Faith communities can support her and teach that taking bribes is condemned (Proverbs 17:23; Qur'an 2:188).
Tip
Inside, between, built-in. Sort obstacles into three groups: inside the person (guilt, fear, resentment), between people (prejudice, hate speech) and built into systems (corruption, impunity). Examiners reward answers that show how the groups affect one another, as in Figure 1.
Warning
Treat trauma with respect. Never mock or dismiss someone who is overwhelmed during commemoration. If a classmate is in distress, stay with them, tell a teacher or counsellor, and let trained people help.
Important
Discuss. Which of the obstacles in this lesson is the greatest threat to unity among young Rwandans today? Give reasons and suggest one action your school could take.
Practice
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa: Figure 1, the table, the worked example (an invented case) and the exercises. This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
