Posted by Staci on: 05.07.2007 /
Take a stand in whatever way you can.
That’s the message I left with after hearing Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof speak at the University of Oregon’s three day symposium Witnessing Genocide: Representation and Responsibility. Mr. Kristof gave the final keynote address of the symposium, “Covering the First Genocide of the 21st Century: Reporting From Darfur.”
I know, I know. Three days of talking about Genocide? The very idea makes a person want to run far away to avoid an overwhelming feeling of complete helplessness. I’ll admit that did keep me from attending the whole event, but the chance to hear Mr. Kristof in person overrode my flight instinct. So the four of us (Rachel and I along with our spouses) found some of the last seats in the room – boy I’d forgotten how small and uncomfortable classroom desk/chair combos are – to hear from this witness to genocide.
Much of what Mr. Kristof said will not surprise anyone who makes the effort to follow news about this atrocity taking place in Sudan, Africa. I won’t go into all the details he covered, but instead focus more on his thoughts about response and steps toward resolution.
(A small note of pride: two journalists who’ve focused on Darfur, Kristof and Ann Curry, are both Oregonians. Look for stories by either one if you want more information.)
Mr. Kristof spoke of how victims in the region have responded. He spoke of seeing the best of human nature along side the worst. From a wounded man carrying his brother 48 miles to a camp to a rape victim telling her story on camera with her real name despite the severe consequences she would surely face. These are not passive victims; they are standing up where they can in the only ways they can.
He spoke of how governments have responded. While there has been some response it has been quite weak. Some, including the US, have at least acknowledged that this is genocide. (Though perhaps lowering the bar on what is required once a nation realizes such a thing.) A variety of things get in the way of a more effective response: avoiding issues with no visible solution, fear of undermining a peace agreement they helped broker in the region, keeping a relationship with the corrupt government because of the intelligence they provide, focusing limited time and resources on other issues.
And what about ordinary citizens throughout the world? Many have written letters to their own governments and the government in Sudan, signed petitions, prayed, gathered material items to send to victims, demonstrated in public squares, asked financial institutions to disinvest in Sudan. Perceived lack of progress has discouraged communities and individuals trying to make a difference. But Mr. Kristof points out such efforts have made a difference and in fact are the only things that will make a difference. Activism has created camps for the displaced, sent aide, forced recognition of the genocide. We need to think pragmatically: some relief is better than no relief.
Since Mr. Kristof has actually been to Darfur and experienced the horror first hand, I wanted to know what he thought was the best way to progress toward resolution. He said:
There has been some action in the past few days:
How will you take a stand?
Leave a Reply
Comment by: Julie Clawson
1 05/7/07 9:20 AM | Comment Link |We need to think pragmatically: some relief is better than no relief.
I think this needs to be at the forefront of our minds. Too often people seem to give up because we can’t just wave a magic wand and fix everything. But if we can help some people, make life better for some we can’t just do nothing because it isn’t everything.
Comment by: Aubrie
2 05/7/07 10:38 AM | Comment Link |I really wanted to go to this & because of children & no baby sitters I was not able to. I read Mr. Kristof’s summary in our local newspaper. Wow. The pictures that were shown & the stories you heard were the same that we have heard, but to really put faces with these’s victim’s almost made me glad I wasn’t there. But then I realize how all American people should see what is really happening, even people wordwide. I think people in other countries may even be more informed & doing more than we are, especially when our president responds the way he does. I’m happy to see action steps that we the people can take & not just say “well, I’m just one person, what can I do.”
Comment by: Rachel
3 05/7/07 8:48 PM | Comment Link |Thanks for that excellent write-up, Staci!
I agree, Julie. Personally I have gotten involved in a bit of citizen activism regarding Darfur and I was getting pretty discouraged. So I was encouraged to hear Mr. Kristof say that the letters, the phone calls, the rallies have made a difference and that our continued efforts are important.
Aubrie, the pictures were very difficult to see. But I was also inspired by the stories of dignity, survival and strength. For example, Mr. Kristof told of an elderly man who, when his village was attacked, protected his frail wife with his own body, suffering terrible wounds in the process. He told of another man who carried his seriously injured brother on his back for 49 days till they reached help. And he told of women who courageously shared their stories of rape and abuse, in spite of the severe stigma and intense pressure to keep silent.
After showing some photos and video, Mr. Kristof said, “I know these pictures are hard to look at. I can see you all grimacing. But it is 10 times harder to go there and see these things in person. And it is 10,000 times harder for these people to tell the stories of what they went through. And it is a million times harder to actually go through it.”
Comment by: Josh
4 05/7/07 9:49 PM | Comment Link |In response to the lack of world response to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, Bonaventure Nybizi said, “We don’t have oil, so it doesn’t matter that we have blood, or that we are human beings.” I am pessimistically optimistic (if one can be such a thing) that maybe one day the world will have ability to be a Global village, and find a place for advocacy of the others who we share Creation with. Much of our care and concern is about value and commodity, yet the only way in which we can solve this issue is if blood becomes a more valuable commodity than things like oil.
Thank you for your post Staci. I really appreciate it.
Comment by: Rachel
5 05/8/07 7:31 AM | Comment Link |Well said, Josh! Welcome to Justice and Compassion!
Comment by: Staci
6 05/8/07 3:24 PM | Comment Link |Thanks, everyone!
I don’t think we can underestimate the power of encouragement. We need to encourage one another and our actions encourage those in Darfur. I recently read an account by a Rwandan woman who was hidden during the genocide in her country. The person hiding her would tune the radio to the BBC station so she could hear it. She talked about how she was encouraged and strengthened by even the small mentions that people wanted to help or were advocating to help. It gave her hope.
Comment by: Elaine
7 05/9/07 8:39 AM | Comment Link |I am thankful for the Nicholas Kristofs of the world - who are willing risk their lives to go to the hard places of this world AND use their voices to make a difference.
Staci - thank you for going and for sharing.
It helps me to have these hard things in “my face” - to remember as I stop at Panera’s that I have just spent more for my breakfast than some people have in a week, month - to feed and clothe their families. This culture has sheltered me from so much of the realities of the majority of the world. When I hear their stories, they take on a surreal feel for me.
If I try really hard, I can barely imagine the trauma that is their daily lives. It reminds me of the scars my mother carried from growing up in the depression - going to bed hungry and washing her one dress every night to have it clean for school the next day…AND she did not have to worry about her safety.
What scars are the people of Darfur carrying? What am I doing or not doing that is contributing to their hardship?