Whenever I have a general conversation about politics, government, or morals, I usually direct the subject towards the issue of the genocide in Darfur. Many are aware of the crisis, but I’m not too surprised when someone responds by saying, "What’s Darfur?" I’m not offended by one’s lack of knowledge on the situation, because it is entirely underreported in the news. I simply take the opportunity to spread my awareness to others. Action starts with awareness, and that is the purpose of this message.
Over 450,000 people have been murdered. 2.5 million have been driven from their homes, and many more are victims of rape, famine, and mutilation. The numbers are still growing. The genocide in Darfur is the first humanitarian crisis of the twenty-first century, but the international community has done very little to stop the violence.
The Holocaust is the most traumatic and shocking human rights crisis to have ever affected mankind. Nazi Germany annihilated six million Jews, along with millions of others who they considered to be inferior. After the Jews were liberated, the international community came together and created world laws against mass atrocities. Genocide, the killing or targeted humiliation of a specific group of people, was on the list. The entire world looked in the eyes of genocide and said, "Never again."
"Never again" is a phrase that is as empty as it is passionate. Since the Holocaust, genocide has wreaked havoc through Cambodia and Yugoslavia. In 1994, Rwanda, a country in the continent of Africa, fell victim to genocide as well. 800,000 people were murdered in less than 100 days. That death rate is many times faster than even the Holocaust, and no country, not even the United States, did much to stop it. Now, the victim is Darfur, and it must not suffer the same fate.
Although the Sudanese government has denied any involvement with the genocide, investigations have shown that it has given the Janjaweed, an Arab militia, incentives to commit these mass atrocities on the government’s behalf. The Sudanese regime thought it would be fooling the international community into thinking the genocide was simply a tribal dispute. Truth is, the Sudanese government has funded and armed the Janjaweed, so that it can commit the genocide successfully. The regime in Sudan is shattering world laws.
Since Bush entered office in 2000, aid to Africa has doubled. While medical and food aid is beneficial, it does not stop the killing. Aid is not enough. The Bush Administration has done very little to stop the violence in Darfur, because the Sudanese government is a partner in the counter-terrorism movement. It’s all about who’s with who and special interests.
The Sudanese officials who have created the genocide must be punished, and the Darfurians must be protected. The Sudanese government is breaking world laws laid out by the Geneva Convention. If we do not protect these laws, then other governments with malicious intentions will walk over them in the future.
As American and world citizens, we have the capacity to put this crisis at an end. I am urging everyone to become informed about the crisis in Darfur and to spread awareness to everyone they can. Write letters to your local, state and federal political figures. If we do not pressure our government, then they will continue to do nothing, and the violence will ultimately continue. We are in a race to save lives.
Most importantly, don’t feel hopeless. Regular people can make a difference. Thanks to average, everyday people, Africa has improved in many ways. Peace agreements have been signed, there have been movements towards democracy, and we have increased international efforts to fight disease and poverty. You just have to use your democratic rights. It’s that simple.
Just a few letters and innovative ideas can stop these mass atrocities and prevent them from happening in the future. Please use your constitutional rights, and force the government to act. If we don’t make noise, the United States government will not waste its time. Revive the phrase, "Never again." Darfur is depending on us.
Thanks for listening. I’ll be happy to hear any questions or comments.
- Dustin
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