The terrible slaughter went on for one hundred days and an estimated one million people
were murdered before the United Nations finally sent in enough troops to bring peace.
For Roméo Dallaire, it was one hundred days of danger, horror, and frustration. But he
would not give up, and he did everything he could to stop the violence. It has been
estimated that his brave actions saved some 32,000 lives.
Afterwards, however, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - a deep
depression that often affects soldiers and other people who have been through horrific
situations with loss - and in this case, massive loss - of human life. At one point, General
Dallaire even tried to kill himself.
Today, Roméo Dallaire is a decorated hero, an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member
of the Canadian Senate, and an outspoken advocate who has devoted his life to several
causes - fighting racism, helping people who suffer from PTSD, and working to stop the
use of children as soldiers. He has demonstrated two important forms of bravery, facing
up to external dangers and his own internal demons.
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