Why Shake Hands With the Devil Is a Must-Read on Human Failure and Moral Courage
Shake Hands With the Devil is a haunting memoir by Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire, who led the United Nations peacekeeping mission during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In this powerful book, Dallaire recounts the horrors he witnessed as over 800,000 people were slaughtered in just 100 days—while the world stood by and did nothing. His story is not only a personal journey through trauma and despair but also a searing indictment of international indifference and bureaucratic failure. Through vivid detail and raw honesty, Shake Hands With the Devil confronts the darkest side of humanity and asks why we allowed such evil to happen.
Shake Hands With the Devil Book Details
Shake Hands With the Devil is Roméo Dallaire’s true story of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He went there as a peacekeeper, a general with orders to help, not to fight. But what he saw was beyond horror. Neighbors killing neighbors. Children murdered in churches. Bodies in the streets. More than 800,000 people died in just 100 days. And the world did nothing.
Dallaire begged for help. He sent messages to the UN, to the West, to anyone who would listen. No one came. They said it was not their problem. They called it a civil war. But it was not war. It was murder.
This book tells what happened. It tells of courage, failure, and shame. It tells how politics and fear let evil win. Dallaire writes with honesty. He does not hide his pain. He does not spare himself. He shakes hands with killers to try to stop the killing. He carries the weight of every life lost.
This is not an easy book. It is hard and true. But it must be read. Because forgetting is the first step to letting it happen again. Shake Hands With the Devil is a warning. And a cry from the soul.
About the Author
Roméo Dallaire is a retired Canadian general who commanded the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. He was sent to stop the killing but was given too few men, too little support, and no real power. He watched as the world turned its back. The horror broke him. After Rwanda, he struggled with PTSD and thoughts of suicide. But he chose to fight on. He wrote this book to tell the truth. Dallaire speaks with pain, but also with purpose. He wants the world to remember, and to never let it happen again.
“Shake Hands with the Devil” by Roméo Dallaire
“Shake Hands with the Devil” by Roméo Dallaire is a powerful and haunting memoir that provides a firsthand account of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, a Canadian military officer, led the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) during this tragic period.
The narrative unfolds as Dallaire recounts his experiences as the commander of UNAMIR, tasked with maintaining peace and stability in Rwanda. The book delves into the political and ethnic tensions that led to the genocide, exploring the failure of the international community to prevent the mass atrocities.
Dallaire’s memoir is a poignant reflection on the moral and psychological toll of witnessing widespread violence and the systematic slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people. He grapples with feelings of guilt, frustration, and helplessness as he describes the challenges of navigating the complex political landscape and the inadequacy of the UN mandate.
The title, “Shake Hands with the Devil,” encapsulates the author’s metaphorical encounter with the forces of evil and the brutality of humanity during the genocide. Dallaire lays bare the horrors he witnessed, the dilemmas he faced, and the emotional scars that continue to affect him.
Throughout the narrative, Dallaire emphasizes the importance of remembrance and accountability, urging the international community to learn from the mistakes of Rwanda. He advocates for a commitment to prevent future genocides and emphasizes the human cost of political inaction.
“Shake Hands with the Devil” serves as both a historical document and a personal testimony, providing readers with a visceral understanding of the atrocities committed during the Rwandan genocide. Dallaire’s eloquent and introspective writing style contributes to the impact of the memoir, making it a crucial read for those interested in understanding the complexities of peacekeeping, the consequences of political failure, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors.
Film: “Shake Hands with the Devil” (2007)
This dramatic adaptation, also titled “Shake Hands with the Devil,” is a Canadian film directed by Roger Spottiswoode. The movie stars Roy Dupuis as Roméo Dallaire and covers the events of the Rwandan genocide. It focuses on Dallaire’s struggles with the inadequate resources, political complexities, and personal demons he faced while leading UNAMIR. The film aims to depict the moral dilemma and emotional toll on Dallaire as he grapples with the horrors of genocide and the world’s indifference.
My Goodreads Review:
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda by Roméo Dallaire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The book is a searing and heart-wrenching account of the Rwandan genocide, providing an unflinching look into the atrocities that unfolded in 1994. As the commander of the UN mission in Rwanda, Dallaire chronicles the descent into chaos, recounting the political failures, the moral dilemmas, and the unimaginable brutality he witnessed. His writing is both visceral and reflective, conveying the profound impact of witnessing mass violence and the haunting memories that linger. Dallaire’s memoir is a powerful call for remembrance, accountability, and a stark reminder of the consequences of international inaction in the face of humanitarian crises. This gripping narrative offers readers a deep understanding of the complexities of peacekeeping and the urgent need for a collective commitment to prevent such horrors from repeating in our world.
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