In May, over 600 people were reported as dead in Darfur. This number, while among the most massive for the conflict, discounts the innumerable deaths the Sudanese government cannot or chooses not to record. The intense fighting and conflict barrs most aid groups from providing assistance to displaced and hunted Darfurians.
It is unacceptable for the American government to not be more public in their condemnation of Sudan. It is unacceptable for the US to provide no aid to a suffering people. It is unacceptable for the US to continue on the silent path they are on when it comes to Sudan.
The Sudanese government is ruthless. The international community: quiet. We said 'never again' after the Holocaust. Never again will we allow human suffering to occur on such a large scare. We said 'never again' after Rwanda. Never again will we ignore the pain of legions of humans. We haven't yet said never again for Darfur. We haven't even noted that Darfur is 'again'.
America doesn't always have the best track record on actually standing up for human rights. However, this can change. The American government can promote prompt and effective action in Darfur and against the regime in Sudan, possibly ending this genocide before it gets any worse. For years, no action has been taken, and no action today can make up for the lives already lost in the conflict. Still, some lives can be saved if America acts now.
Ignoring your problems doesn't solve them. So why is that the American strategy in Sudan? 600 lives were lost two months ago. How many more people must die before the US can help the international community in bringing an end to the terror in Darfur?
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Nicholas Kristof
"Frankly, I find it very sad that this administration should seem so uninterested in Darfur, considering that three of the senators most active on Darfur in recent years were Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. "
The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution Thursday, effectively accusing the Turks of the genocide of approximately 1.5 million Armenians during and after World War One. Turkey has consistently denied the existence of the genocide, and this declaration may be damaging to both American-Turkish relations and Armenian-Turkish relations. It is unknown if the entire House will have an opportunity to vote on the resolution. Although both Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama had referred, in the past, to the actions of Turkey as genocide, the Obama administration made a late request for the resolution not to be voted on, presumably because of fear of Turkish reaction. Representatives voting on the measure noted being caught between foreign policy concerns and ethical concerns over allowing Turkey’s actions to go unnoticed.
As someone with Armenian heritage, I have several family members who feel very strongly about the atrocities committed against Armenians around the time of World War One. In fact, fear of this mass murder was the very reason my family originally left Armenia for the United States. However, it is important to take into account the foreign policy ramifications of this decision by Congress. It is imperative that America retains a beneficial relationship with Turkey and that America promotes good relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey is a vital US ally in the Middle East, a part of the world where the United States can use every supporter it can get. Turkey and America also share economic ties, and American companies do federal contracting work for the Turkish government. It is possible that the vote Thursday could negatively impact these business agreements.
In the long run, I believe it more important to act ethically and condemn acts of genocide than to act in fear of risking foreign policy relationships. For too long, the American government ignored the Armenian genocide, and its treatment by America mirrors the treatment of modern genocides. The genocides in Darfur and Rwanda are and were dismissed by the American government, similarly to the ignoring of the Armenian genocide. It is extraordinarily important that Congress is willing and able to act to protect human rights around the world when lives of innocent civilians are threatened in a widespread fashion. As Americans, if we are going to say we stand for the ideals of liberty, of justice, of democracy, and of equality, we must act upon our beliefs; otherwise, they mean nothing.
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President Barack Obama
"Today we know what is right, and today we know what is wrong. The slaughter of innocents is wrong. Two million people driven from their homes is wrong. Women gang raped while gathering firewood is wrong. And silence, acquiescence and paralysis in the face of genocide is wrong."
The most sucessful franchise of all time was based on a story of a boy wizard who, against all odds, was able to choose the morally correct choice and save his friends from a disturbingly evil threat. The insanely popular Harry Potter series makes allusions to worker's rights (Dobby the house elf), media bias (The Daily Prophet), corruption in government (The Ministry of Magic), minority treatment (Muggle-Born Registration Commission), and even more real-world equivalents. Some Harry Potter fans are working to promote Harry's ideals of freedom and equality in the 'Muggle' (non-magical) world.
The Harry Potter Alliance is a group of fans who are committed to both the series and worldwide equality, and they have found a way to merge the two. The group is led by fandom leaders and well-known 'wizard rockers', and works for a variety of causes including the genocide in Darfur , restructuring of Rwanda, marriage equality, voter registration, education, media reform, and environmental causes.
Jo Rowling, the series' author, is a fan of the group. “I am honoured and humbled that Harry’s name has been given to such an extraordinary campaign, which really does exemplify the values for which Dumbledore’s Army fought in the books," she said. The HPA has released several iTunes podcasts to inform people- specifically Harry Potter fans- of why they personally need to fight.
The group's Board of Directors includes Andrew Slack, Melissa Anelli, Matt Maggiacomo, and Seth Reibstien.
Darfur is a region in Sudan whose people are being annihilated by the Sudanese government in an under-publicized genocide. Over 300,000 Darfur people have died, according to the UN, and millions have been displaced from their homes.
Americans are turning a blind eye as the people of Darfur are slaughtered. The American media does not report on them, the American Congress will not vote to assist them, and the American people cannot relate to them, so they do nothing to help.
The US government needs to take swift and strong action against the Sudanese government and the genocide of Darfurians. The UN has indicted President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan for war crimes, but this is not enough. Assistance is despritely required for the millions of displaced Darfur people, living in refugee camps in fear of death or rape.
There is no hope for these displaced Darfurians, and without America's help, they will continue to lack basic supplies and be slaughtered by the government of Sudan. Sudan will be holding an election very soon, and without UN intervention and American help, it is certain that the people of Darfur will be brutally silenced.
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It is unacceptable for the American government to not be more public in their condemnation of Sudan. It is unacceptable for the US to provide no aid to a suffering people. It is unacceptable for the US to continue on the silent path they are on when it comes to Sudan.
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