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guthmund · 02-05-2005, 12:03 AM

It's a two fold problem.

The American media shys away from it. I mean, even when politicos were mentioning it during the beginnings of the war in Iraq, the news media largely ignored it. Sadly, if the news media, however pathetic its current incarnation, doesn't cover it, then the vast majority doesn't hear and doesn't care about it.

Second, the numbers are just so staggering. It's a question of relativity. You estimated 400,000 gone in the Sudan. That's a hard number to get a hold of. 3 people dead, you know 3 people, what if they died? 10 people dead, likewise. But 400,000? It's hard for folks who have seen the pictures to imagine 400,000 dead and nearly impossible to understand if you haven't.

Sadly, there isn't much 'we' can do other than get the information out. This isn't a problem to be solved by holding rallies, paying membership dues and mailing $30 a month to save a starving child. It's a problem, so large in scope, that our government must be the acting authority. It's not in our government's best interest to become involved with an internal civil war in Africa. At least, that's the official line. The fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter that they're 'africans,' what matters is they're poor and their countries have nothing to offer. Where's the incentive to jump headfirst into another Rwanda? What could those 400,000 possibly have had to barter with? They had nothing, which means any movement from our government has to be altruistic in nature. I bet you can count on both your hands how many times that's happened.

My heart goes out to them, it really does and those that care, do what they can. Sometimes you just can't make a person see past their own nose.

By the way. If you want a wide and varying response (or any more at all), I'd ask a moderator to move this to the politics forum. In the politics forum, everyone seems to have a differing opinion on everything and there are never any 'dry spells.'

02-05-2005, 12:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	It's a two fold problem. The American media shys away from it. I mean, even when politicos were mentioning it during the beginnings of the war in Iraq, the news media largely ignored it. Sadly, if the news media, however pathetic its current incarnation, doesn't cover it, then the vast majority doesn't hear and doesn't care about it. Second, the numbers are just so staggering. It's a question of relativity. You estimated 400,000 gone in the Sudan. That's a hard number to get a hold of. 3 people dead, you know 3 people, what if they died? 10 people dead, likewise. But 400,000? It's hard for folks who have seen the pictures to imagine 400,000 dead and nearly impossible to understand if you haven't. Sadly, there isn't much 'we' can do other than get the information out. This isn't a problem to be solved by holding rallies, paying membership dues and mailing $30 a month to save a starving child. It's a problem, so large in scope, that our government must be the acting authority. It's not in our government's best interest to become involved with an internal civil war in Africa. At least, that's the official line. The fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter that they're 'africans,' what matters is they're poor and their countries have nothing to offer. Where's the incentive to jump headfirst into another Rwanda? What could those 400,000 possibly have had to barter with? They had nothing, which means any movement from our government has to be altruistic in nature. I bet you can count on both your hands how many times that's happened. My heart goes out to them, it really does and those that care, do what they can. Sometimes you just can't make a person see past their own nose. By the way. If you want a wide and varying response (or any more at all), I'd ask a moderator to move this to the politics forum. In the politics forum, everyone seems to have a differing opinion on everything and there are never any 'dry spells.' __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.