Viewers of tonight’s “Frontline” documentary about the 1994 Rwanda
genocide will be reminded of “the world’s failure to halt the slaughter.” That’s what I wrote earlier today. How stupid for
being so vague. I owe readers an apology.
I should have said viewers will be reminded of “the failure of the United Nations.” I should
have said they will be reminded of “the failure of the United States.” Because that’s who failed,
not some entity called “the world,” which lets everybody off the hook.
And now I wonder whether the exhibition of Rwanda Project
photos currently in the U.N. lobby, rather than paying
tribute to the Rwanda orphans who took them, is actually an insult. The U.N. doesn’t
deserve the right to show those photos.
