Burke's Power in relation to Hotel Rwanda

In Burke's essay, he is quoted as saying; 'I know of nothing sublime which is not some modification of power'. He also believes that power and the sublime rise from the same branch as terror; ergo, terror is imposed through power, thus making it sublime (for the being with the power). A prime example of power inflicting terror can be taken from Terry George's 'Hotel Rwanda', based on the true events of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Over a million innocent Africans were slaughtered on their streets and in their homes simply for the fact that they were Tutsi. The film depicts the story of Paul Rusesabagina who houses a thousand Tutsi refugees in his hotel whilst the war between the tribe rages on. In relation to Burke's essay, we can note that the Hutu tribe had ultimate power, thus inflicting terror upon the Tutsi; the Hutu's gained pleasure and sublimity through this power. Burke states that 'whilst we remain in the presence of whatsoever is supposed to have the power of inflicting either [pain or death], it is impossible to be perfectly free from terror.' this is certainly true in the case of the film Hotel Rwanda, as in many instances we see Paul and other Tutsi tribe members definitely not free from terror when in the presence of the Hutu tribe. Paul must beg and live in terror in order to save his family and other refugees. A key sequence within the film which demonstrates palpably how the Hutu tribe gain pleasure through power by inflicting terror, is when a great number of Hutu's line the road outside the Hotel, knowing that no Tutsi would dare step foot outside the compound else they will be brutally slain. Their chants, whistles and cries of joy indicate how their power is ultimate and as Burke states 'power derives all it's sublimity from terror'.