Everybody has a different definition of what it means to be a leader; some say that a leader has to be in a position of authority and others say that a leader has to be one who knows how to use that power wisely. All of these encompass what it means to be a leader. However, I think the one characteristic that all leaders must have is the courage to do what others do not dream or dare to do. This is my favorite characteristic of Paul Rusesabagina as a leader.
Paul Rusesabagina is a Rwandan citizen noted for saving 1,268 refugees from being slaughtered by the Interahamwe militia during the Rwandan Genocide. During the genocide, he took advantage of his status as manager of the Sabena Hotel de Mille Collines and opened his arms to anybody who needed shelter from the wrath of the hostile militia. Words cannot describe Paul Rusesabagina’s bravery during such a terrifying situation. When the militia entered the hotel’s territory, Rusesabagina forced his wife and children to flee in a truck while he remained behind. His sole purpose was to protect the refugees for he felt that if he absconded, they would have nobody else. During this period, his leadership was like an autocracy but with the positive connotations of a democracy. It was crucial that he acted with force and haste for one mistake could endanger everybody’s safety. Thus, he did not have the option of listening to everybody’s input. Nobody seemed to have cared anyways. Their incessant fear drove them to believe that this man knew what he was talking about and his words reassured them that they had a fighting chance. My honest opinion is that this man has no flaw. If he had a flaw, perhaps it is that he cares too much about people other than himself since it is beneficial to be a little selfish about oneself.
Sources:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5324187
http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm?author_number=1321
I saw the money. I had never heard of Rusesabagina before. If the movie is an accurate representation of what he did in a time when the easiest thing to do was probably to duck, cover, and look out for oneself... then you are right and more people should know about him and acknowledge his brave efforts. Thank you for sharing it here!
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