Darfur
I don't know much about African politics. I learn what I know off of reading a few newspapers (mainly Michigan ones to get Michigan politics with a few tidbits from the world scene thrown in) and NPR. Interestingly enough, the very fact I've heard little to nothing about Darfur on NPR supports this article. Read this article about what's going on in the Sudan and how the world is so uncaring and hypocritical.
posted by Xana Ender @ 11:06 AM
3 Comments:
At 1:55 AM,
Anonymous said…
AMEN! But what's the solution?
Several months ago I went to a film screening about Darfur, that was being promoted by various college-age people travelling with the film. They had been to the Sudan for a few weeks, and took written, anonymous questions after the film. They read my question, something along the lines of, "How do you foresee the American people responding if the U.S. attempts to stop the genocide in Darfur, after the response to the Iraq invasion?"
The college students' answer:
"OK, who's the poli sci professor in the audience?" And said they couldn't predict it, and went on to the next question.
I was mainly trying to make them think, to jolt them out of their idealism, to see that there are consequences to ANY invasion, no matter how warranted. But they didn't want to see that side of the story.
--Ariana
At 9:14 AM,
Xana Ender said…
I was telling your story and a little bit about this article to a friend last night and apparently he's planning on solving this problem:-) Which, if he becomes an elected official on the federal level like he's been thinking might be possible. It also might be a while. Or he could have been referring to "taking care" of it himself. *hee hee* But anyway, I'm really not sure what the US can do. After all, we're stretched to our limit in the countries we're in now and most people in the US want us out anyway. So, how can we do anything? Personally helping Sudanese who do come to this country, or seeing if there are any organizations to donate to who are doing relief work (if there are any), but why do people think American citizens will care more about Africans being massacred wholesale if we've shown such a lack of interest in Arabs being massacred wholesale? We're really too interested in our own comfort. But how do we change that?
At 7:53 AM,
Esther said…
It's tough for the U.S. to get involved in these type of things unless there is a clear badguy. In this case I think there is. However, the best solution might be to set up safe areas and get people into them (like camps) and get them food and medicine.
I do not think the U.S. will do anything because when it comes to African countries we just don't act. Personally, I think it's the lack of economic benefit. Which is sad. As I posted that article to my own blog, I definitely agree with Mr. Peters (who is an awesome writer) on this issue. It's really sad.
Another thing that the general public can do is to sponsor a child who lives in a troubled area of Africa, or something like that. This might be difficult in the Sudan, however.
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