All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
-- Edmund Burke, British-Irish statesman, author, orator, political thinker and philosopher (1729-1797)
Highly Intellectual Dude, I couldn't agree more. But I don't blame Americans. The rest of the World is NO better. In fact there are probably more Americans active in trying to save Darfur, such as Bette Midler and George and Nick Clooney - and all credit to them - then Europeans. The European response disgusts me as many African countries are the legacy of colonial rule by France, Belgium, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy, and Germany. So they should be doing more.
And by the way SUDAN HAS OIL and GAS. Most of it is exported to China. And not surprisingly China have been one of the biggest obstacles in the UN Security Council to doing something to help the poor people of Darfur. SHAME ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
One of the reasons for this gross moral failure is the role of the Media. Last week only one newspaper in the UK, The Independent - and all credit to them - made Darfur front page news with a big special report.
The African Union (AU) is already there with a 7,000 man force, but their mandate ends on 30 September, and the Sudanese Government want them to leave. (I wonder why?) The AU have been there for a few years, but they are BADLY under funded, under equipped and under manned. Yet they have made a HUGE difference just by being there as witnesses to stop and deter rape, murder, and genocide. If they leave, and no UN force replaces them, as George Clooney says there will be a "Blood Bath". If the AU force were properly funded they would be fully effective, and being Africans they would do a far better job then a European UN force. Can you imagine a French force actually getting their hands dirty fighting the Janjaweed militias if necessary.
There are some decent and good African commanders with the experience to take control of the situation. All they need is a real mandate, money, equipment and more men.
It is unfair to criticise the AU force as they come from the poorest countries on earth, such as Rwanda. And secondly they are the ONLY force in town right now.
Ironically the largest AU component is made up of Rwandans, who know a thing or two about Genocide.
The people of Darfur desperately want the AU to stay.
The UN has failed so far, because wealthy countries have WITHHELD both the funding and military support required, and have left the African Union to deploy a token force without a mandate to protect civilians. The lack of World moral and political will to address the political and economic structures that underlie the conflict, and the sad fact that the International Community has defined the Darfur conflict in humanitarian assistance terms, and debated and ignored the "genocide" label while innocent men, women and children are murdered has led to this MORAL CAPITULATION.
Estimates range from 300 to 450,000 Black African men, women and children have been raped and murdered in Darfur in the last 5 years by the Sudanese Arab Muslim Army and Janjaweed Militias in the greatest Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing since Rwanda and Bosnia. But as there are NO records we will never know the true figure. Only from surviving mothers do we learn that so many children have been killed with many families "wiped out". Some of the stories I have read are truly horrific.
6 million people live in Darfur. The Darfurians are descendants of the ancient Nubians and have lived in the Nuba Mountains since Biblical times.
2.5 million Darfurians are in "Refugee Camps" and on the verge of starvation. If the AU leave and no UN force replaces it then the Sudanese Government will use the time honoured Nazi method of starvation and massacre.
The Sudanese Army and Janjaweed Militias are systematically burning villages, and use rape as a weapon against women.
This is ETHNIC CLEANSING pure and simple.
George Clooney has warned the UN Security Council of impending Genocide in Darfur. Clooney said if we don't get a United Nations Humanitarian and Peace Keeping Force (to replace the African Union force) in Darfur soon - we will have another Rwanda on our hands, and the FIRST HOLOCAUST of the 21st century.
Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, has vowed to fight off UN troops himself, and warned that Sudan would take on UN soldiers "as Hizbollah beat Israeli forces". Omar al-Bashir also said he will use al-Qa'ida insurgents to fight the UN.
Clooney said "After September 30, you won't need the UN. You will simply need men with shovels and bleached white linen and headstones."
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown asks the question:
"Where are the Muslims protesting about Darfur?"
"Where is the shrill outrage when Arab Muslims kill and ethnically cleanse Black African Darfurians from their meagre homes? Why is the anti-African racism of the Arab Sudanese government and militia not damned by Muslims? Where are the perpetually appalled Muslims today?"
The whole sad enormity of this Tragedy makes me want to cry.
We have heard the phrase "NEVER AGAIN" since the Holocaust. But there always seems to be another Genocide or Ethnic Cleansing in the World.
Will we let the Arabs carry on murdering our Black African brothers and sisters in the Darfur?
To paraphrase a constant Arab argument used against Israel: Are a Thousand Black African lives in Darfur worth less than One Arab life?
Will we be watching "Hotel Darfur" in ten years time?
We say "NEVER AGAIN", but are we really just LYING TO OURSELVES?
IS THE WORLD GOING TO LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN?
WILL THE HUMAN RACE EAT THE BREAD OF SHAME (those of us who have a conscience) AGAIN?
I PRAY FOR JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR.
STOP THE GENOCIDE NOW.
PS How many people here can I interest in sending a message to George Bush and Kofi Annan to save the people of Darfur?
Goto www.SaveDarfur.org and www.DayForDarfur.org
Have a look around find out whats happening then click on take action to send the message.
If you join it (top right hand corner) then they send you messages about what you can do to help.
An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.
-- Dr Samuel Johnson, English author, poet, critic & lexicographer (1709-1784)
In order that all men may be taught to speak Truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.
-- Dr Samuel Johnson
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
-- Martin Niemöller, German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran Pastor
2006-09-21 15:03:15
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answer #1
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answered by Hebrew Hammer 3
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I'm not a bigot and I take great offense to your comment. I have no control over whom the US government decides and doesn't decide to help. I voted twice for a much different administration. The situation in Darfur is terrible and they are certainly not getting the WORLDWIDE (not just the US) help that they deserve. However, calling all Americans bigots...do you think that's the way to help?
2006-09-18 15:26:32
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answer #2
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answered by i have no idea 6
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Tell Darfur to get some oil. Then atleast Bush will care. The only way others will care, is if Bush decides he wants to go in and says they have WMD's. When we dont find the WMD's, watch how many republicans will say they support Bush in Darfur, because the people need us to save them. Noone ever said anything about WMD's...
Seriously though, yes people are bigots
2006-09-18 15:18:32
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Darfur is a not a popular vacation spot and offers nothing but acres and acres of sand. Worldwide it is being ignored for those reasons and the one that you present. My questions on Darfur have been virtually ignored. Unfortunately the Red Cross does not have a military which is needed to squash, yet again, some radical Muslims. Is there a trend going on here or what?!?
2006-09-18 15:20:08
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answer #4
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answered by El Pistolero Negra 5
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No we just don't care. Take for example Iraq, the only number we concern ourselves with over there is the death toll of our troops. Nobody in the US cares about how many Iraqi civilians die, the subject is never even approached. I completely agree with what you said, but you have to remember you are dealing with the US public, it took two jumbo jets going into the WTC on live TV for anybody to really think about terrorism. Maybe the people in Darfur need to get the US publics' attention......
2006-09-18 15:21:04
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answer #5
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answered by The Angry Stick Man 6
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CORRECTION PEOPLE, SUDAN HAS A LOT OF OIL!
Nicholas Kristoff's(sp?) column at NYTIMES was the first to bring this to my attention. Colin Powell was the first to bring it to the attention of the UN, after Nick brought it to the attention of people who read NYTimes online when his column was still free. USA seems to have lead the way on bringing the genocide to the world's attention, but much work remains to be done.
The reason appears to be that it is Muslim on Muslim genocide. Primarily, the light-skinned Arabic muslims are systematically eliminating the black-skinned muslims, and raping the younger women and girls.
It isn't that there is no interest, but the Muslim lobby at the UN keeps downplaying the issue and blocking any action, and mainstream media is afraid to offend any Muslims, even if they are involved in a genocide.
I used to beat this drum, but got a lot of flames and hate mail. Fortunately, I'm somewhat anonymous on the net, and can easily delete hate email.
Are we bigots? I still think the primary responsibility remains with media to grow a pair, and put pressure on UN and other NGOs and Int'l agencies, and raise the awareness of the world by giving it more attention.
Darfur actually does appear to be a war for oil, with the Arabic Sudanese wiping out the Black Southern Sudanese to obtain control of their 1 billion barrels of oil. Oh, and the Arabic Sudanese import a lot of mercenaries to wipe out the others.
2006-09-21 10:44:28
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answer #6
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answered by Lewis Y 6
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A lot of the problem is the press. Most people know what's going on around the world because they watch the news or they read a newspaper. If the media started giving more time to the problem, more people would have an interest.
2006-09-18 15:17:51
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answer #7
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answered by Botag 2
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Let the UN, Russia, France, Germany or someone else do something for once. you all have been screaming that we shouldn't be the police of the world, and we are busy right now. Better yet. How about you liberal suit up and go. You're all gun ho when its your issue, but you still don't want to put your money where your mouth is by joining our military. Since the military is more than 75% conservative, I think we are doing our fair share.
2006-09-18 15:18:33
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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there is only so much we can do about darfur through the red cross. i am aware of a few of the things that are going on there. through my lack of action to stop it i become part of the problem. if i didn't have prior engagements and promises to keep i would go over there and kill those arabs who are attacking civilians.
2006-09-18 23:16:39
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answer #9
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answered by Stand-up Philosopher 5
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Because the American people don't have the stomach for any more global conflicts. We have become sooo weak after all this years of feminazis, Liberal mass media influence, & bull**** political correctness.
2006-09-18 15:25:36
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answer #10
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answered by Eric R 6
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