What I have learned

This class has drastically changed my view of Sudan, and my own life. It has made me step back and look at the world in a different light. Here at Shattuck, we are in a bubble in inside another bubble (America). We hear of famine, poverty, and genocide, but do we really understand what we think we know? Sometimes during 3rd period after hockey practice I catch myself saying "I am starving! I cannot wait for lunch." We use these words so freely here in America, but do we really know what we are saying. The last few times I have said "I am starving" I have felt a little sense of shame because I know that my life is so good and the food and water I have is extremely abundant. The things we take for granted are other people's luxuries. Last night, as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, I thought of what a blessed life I have. I have a bed, not the hard desert ground, a roof over my head, not the stars or the threat of wild animals. My dad always asks me, "Do you know how lucky you are?" And I had always replied with a smile and "yes." But now I realize that I didn't know how lucky I am, and I still don't think I fully grasp the difference in lifestyles of America and Africa.
Also, the more I learned about the conflict in Sudan, the more I realized that many of the things we value in America are not the things that need to be focused on. Family, faith, and friends are the most important things of all. I believe that people who are more fortunate should be helping those in other countries. While we are having parties with an abundance of food, people over in Sudan are scrounging for some crumbs.
This has also made me realize that if I had a bad hockey game, if I did poorly on a test, or even if I had a bad day, this is unimportant in the long run. I am grateful I am studying these conflicts because it has opened my mind to a whole new way of thinking.

Questions Response

I think all people are born good. I believe that experiences when we are young shape your character and who you become. Children are innocent and the world eventually leaves an impression on them, so the better or worse. In the novel, They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, the boys see older soldiers and learn from their actions. Many of these soon to be soldiers are not taught that killing is wrong, they actually form the desire to kill because "they'd seen a lot of killing and they also wanted to kill" (127). Although many young boys may see older soldiers and think their guns and uniforms are cool, killing is a whole different story. Once you have the gun in your hands, I would think you would have to override your conscience in order to kill someone (if they were not attacking you). Many of the soldiers must silence their conscience or ignore it in order to allow themselves to commit these actions.
Fear and self preservation are other factors that may motivate soldiers to kill. The Janjaweed soldiers may feel that if they do not fight against the SPLA soldiers, the government will turn against them. Therefore, many may believe that if they don't fight, they will die.
A person's circumstances also has a significant affect on what they are or are not willing to do. For example, in the book They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, Alepho says "I did silly things: got angry over nothing, fought. It was my way of dealing with our situation" (118). Many people take their anger and fear out on those around them. This reminds me of the old saying, the boss yells at the husband, the husband comes home and yells at the wife, wife yells at the child, the child kicks the dog. The saying can relate to Sudan because the government may be cruel to the Janjaweed, and the Janjaweed are angry or scared of more violence so they hurt the Sudanese civilians. The SPLA may also be hurt by the government and their lack of support and may therefore be taking out their anger on the Janjaweed.
When someone inflicts pain on another human or animal, they often hurt themselves just as much or more than the victim. In some part (small or large) part of a soldier's mind and heart, there must be an overwhelming sense of guilt, confusion, fear, and lack of confidence. They must fear that someone will murder them, like they have murdered others. Their confusion and lack of confidence is a result of their suppressed conscience. Your conscience is what often decides the difference between right and wrong and helps you make you decisions. Therefore, when you silence this force, or when it is raging, trying to tell you what you are doing is wrong, you lose the ability to decipher between right and wrong.
Many people let others convince them to fight through guilt. People may say that you need to fight for your country, that others fought for you and now it is your turn. A boy, Alepho, in the book named above felt this at one level or another because he had a dream where a skull (the leftover of a victim in warring Sudan) said to him "'Son, you will fight this war. We all paid for it. Everybody will pay for it" (301). But if you let someone convince you that you need to become something you are not or that you do not want to be, that if your fault for not standing up for yourself before you lose the power to control yourself at all.
Some people might argue that young kids do not have a choice in whether or not they become soldiers. Yes, they do have a choice. Many boys (including the three boys in They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky) escaped the camps and the military training or they died trying. You always have a choice in everything you are offered or things people attempt to force on you. If you accept, often times you will lose your life and independence. If you reject, then you will save your own life and the lives of others through your courage.









Sources:


They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky

Response to Mr. Cavellier's Comment

When the people of Sudan talk about "leaving famine to foreigners," they are talking about the leaders of America. If the people of America left the victims of hurricane Katrina to be "helped by foreigners" I would think of our country as being lazy because we have the resources to help the people in our country. I think that would also make the US more vulnerable because we would be in the hands of another country (especially for an even larger issue). I understand that the government or other citizens in Sudan may not be able to help their starving people, but the fact that they are not even trying to help or solve the problem infuriates me. The fact that the Sudanese government is taking our help for granted also makes me angry. However, I am happy that I live in a country that can afford to help other countries. I agree with you, that the US is good with helping others in our nation. I do not think we are naive for believing this either. The US is competent, and we know that we are. But if we were in severe trouble, we would have allies to come and help us. But if we ever do call for help, we will help the ally help us and not take their assistance for granted, like the Sudanese people are doing for the famine.
I think that the Sudanese do not help or care about the other people in their country the way the US does because Sudan has been so segregated for so many years that they do not feel the patriotic bond of belonging to the same country. Therefore, they are not willing to help one another to the extent that Americans do.

Helping Darfur

Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Holocaust, is eagerly trying to create an awareness of Darfur and to end the genocide occurring there. He realizes that each day Darfur continues the killings there are countless innocent lives taken. Many people, similar to Wiesel, can relate to the people in Darfur. Some people share the same emotions, the same cultural background, or even the same experiences with the victims of the genocide. These bonds with the people in Darfur drive them to try and stop the genocide.
There are many groups that are working together to show Americans how terrible the genocide is in Darfur. The "Voices from Darfur" tour is program that helps people understand the deaths and suffering of the people in Darfur in more ways than just numbers. This tour has reached over 44 cities nationwide.
I have utmost respect for the people leading this tour and the people spreading awareness for the genocide in Darfur. I cringe when I watch reality TV shows where wealthy people spend their money in frivolous ways. I think these people are selfish; they need to be helping others and to use their money to make a positive influence on the world. These wealthy people should be able to live comfortably but the lavish lifestyle that some of these celebrities live is simply outrageous. And some people say that even if they did donate money to help the cause, they would not have an impact anyway. That is NOT true. Every effort, cent, and prayer will help these suffering people in more ways than we realize.

Sources:
http://www.facinghistory.org/resources/lessons/darfur-now-lesson-four
http://www.savedarfur.org/newsroom/clips/darfur_refugee_speaks_on_genocide_survival/

Response to Ms. Cavellier's Comment

The photographer who documented the Janjaweed in the New Yorker is named Bruno Stevens. He has captured images for many different universal issues. There is one picture and brief blog about the Georgia War (see link below). Another link below will bring up a picture and small comment on the aftermath of the Lebanon war. There is also a website written by Stevens that talks about the Leica M8 camera he used in Iran. Although the site is primarily talking about the camera, there are some very good pictures on it as well.

He was also the coauthor and photographer of the book Baghdad: Truth Lies Within. The book is about the lives of people in Baghdad before, during, and after the war in Iraq that occurred in 2003. This book reveals the clear truth about the war, which is hazy for many people. The story tells about the fall of Suddam Hussein's government and the turmoil that was caused when the Americans came over. There are also 200 graphic and moving pictures in this book. It sounds good...I think I might go to Barnes and Noble and get it!

Sources:
http://www.artbook.com/9055445088.html
http://www.drr.net/Bruno/Common/PhotoDetailPage.aspx?msa=0&pid=18217762&slid=afadfaa6-02dc-492a-99fd-018a7a1389f2&slididx=195&lid=0&rstid=487a4e3c-cb45-4259-a4d2-467698b67f1e&aid=1
http://www.digitalrailroad.net/Bruno/Common/PhotoDetailPage.aspx?msa=0&pid=6011484&slid=ea2f8c36-864f-4f03-9973-b82ec6997269&slididx=7&lid=0&rstid=91bf2ed1-750f-47b5-b8f6-84c64212afdd
http://www.digitalfilmmaker.net/0907/leicaM8/index2.html

Famine

The information given in this article about the famine in Sudan is extremely surprising. This problem, considered a major issue in the United States, is viewed exactly opposite in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The recent coup was not caused by starving people or even the concern for them, it was carried out by people who were concerned with overthrowing the leader Nemerie, and the future of the south and its resources. The citizens of Khartoum view famine as “a crisis best left to foreigners.” The United States has been aiding the starving Sudanese people with food, military aid, and other supplies, and the politicians in Khartoum think that the US are taking care of the situation. This attitude annoys me because politicians from other countries should not expect the US to take care of their starving people. And when we do take care of these people, the politicians certainly should not take it for granted and say “the US is handling it” in such a carefree manner. It also offends me that other countries are not going to appreciate or recognize the aid that is costing the US over $450 million. Sudanese politicians should be taking steps to help the major issue in Sudan, but since the African peasants “never start coups” this issue has been ignored. When other Sudanese citizens make efforts to relieve the hunger problem, they are looked upon as black sheep. One 24 year old man, Osama Fatouta, founded the Sudanese Volunteer Services Association. This Association consists of a young group of Sudanese volunteers that work with famine victims. From the United States point of view, this man is a leader and he is doing the right thing. However, Fatouta says “’People I know think I’m crazy. They can’t understand why I am doing this. I’ve gotten little support, it has been an uphill struggle all the way.’” Most of the people in Khartoum were worried about overthrowing Nemerie, and the author of this article said “I rarely heard any discussion of [famine].” I think the Sudanese people and government leaders need to help their own country as much as possible and eliminate this welfare mentality.















Source:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198604/sudan
http://i.timeinc.net/time/daily/special/photo/inferno/sudan2.jpg
http://www.mzv.cz/servis/soubor.asp?id=11079

BBC; China 'is Fuelling war in Darfur'

The BBC website has a lot of thorough and reliable information that has helped me gain a more thorough perspective on the war in Darfur. The link that I am particularly interested in is the one labeled China 'is Fuelling war in Darfur.' I cannot believe that another country would aid and fuel this horrible war. The UN has placed an arms embargo on Dafur. This means foreign nations are not allowed to militarily assist anyone in the conflict in Darfur. China is going directly against that. Over 300,000 people have died in the war in Darfur and the thought that any country would encourage and prolong this is appalling, regardless of their financial profit. There have been lorries found in Sudan, and the plates on these trucks prove that they were imported after the embargo was set in place. Three years ago, the UN has strong reason to believe that the lorries were imported from China to Sudan but they could not find them. The lorries were only discovered recently. I think China should stay out of the war in Darfur, even if they feel they are helping. China is not helping by adding weapons to the problem. Although China has denied this aid, there is valid evidence to prove otherwise.

Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7503428.stm
http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2008/07/20/story34557.asp