Russ Feingold in the Congo

Predicting winners of elections has become easy in the USA since about 95% of the time in major elections the persons with the most money wins. When Russ Feingold was seeking reelection as a Senator for Wisconsin a few years ago, running against an unknown millionaire I thought this might be an exception to the rule. Russ Feingold was well known and respected in Wisconsin and nationally. He had an excellent grass roots team of workers. I remember getting a number of visits and phone calls from Feingold supporters before the election. Even a friend, who like me, said he would not vote again, made an exception and voted for Feingold. But the man with the most money won.

Last year, after teaching in Law schools for a few years, his old friend from the Senate, now Secretary of State Kerry appointed him as special envoy to the Congo. This seemed strange since his expertise was on the Judiciary committee of the USA Senate. Today I read an article that appeared in Politico magazine called “Did Russ Feingold Just End a War, The unlikely story of how the former Wisconsin senator made peace in Congo.”

It is an amazing story, especially for me since it includes the role of Rwanda in the long term conflict in the Congo. Ever since hearing Immaculée Ilibagiza speak at Marquette University about forgiveness after the genocide in Rwanda I have wondered about what lead up to the genocide and what happened afterwards.

A got a hint of what is happening the other night when I showed a chart with Rwanda second to the USA in incarcerating its own citizens.

This article shows that after the Tutsi party regained power in Rwanda how they promoted killing and rape in the Congo to punish their enemies and create a buffer zone. Immaculee might have forgiven persons for the genocide but it seems the government certainly has not.

The story about how Russ Feingold might have just ended a war is long but it is fascinating and shows how the power of the word and nonviolence can conquer the power of the gun and revenge.

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