Interesting commentary in the link posted by atsirk.
My following comments are in response to what was said by the commenter in the link (not what anyone has said in this blog).
I am troubled that despite the much needed media attention that the Security Council votes needed to do something in Darfur will still be blocked.
But the attention to this matter didn't come from the commenter in the link above, they came from the Clooney's involvement by going over there to see for themselves and document what they saw. As much as the commenter derides the "celeb left" for their efforts, it is just those efforts and because of their celebrity that the issue has become much more well-known.
He slams the messenger even though he agrees the message needed to get out there. There is no pleasing him.
I am hesitant to commit military action in that region and the commenter makes a good point about Iraq. I don't think Iraq as the country that stands now, can ever hope to see democracy. The ethnic factions don't want to be united. Just as they did not want to be united in Yugoslavia after WWII. It took an oppressive regime and dictator to keep the warring factions in check. And as soon as he was removed, (or died as in the case of Tito) the violence and ethnic cleansing began again in earnest.
I am not advocating dictatorship. But it seems that we continue to try to artificially create countries that don't want to be united. Our example doesn't seem to work in other parts of the world because they have centuries of hatred and past deeds from which the hatred stems.
Sometimes it makes you want to throw up your hands in disgust.
But then you look again and you see countless people, woman, men and children suffering because of these long held hatreds. How can you NOT respond and try to do something?
I suppose we could all just sit and wring out hands or make commentary on blogs that "I've been telling you about this since 2003." So what? Nobody was reading you, but they showed up to see George.
So let him use his international recognition to bring much needed attention to atrocities. Then the blog commenter and others who think celebs don't know what they are talking about can continue to make their smug comments.
Me, I don't care who brings the attention to this. I'm more interested in who is going to do something about it.
As I said before, I am hesitant to take military action, but perhaps the army logistics and air force capability, can be used to bring much needed relief. But I think this needs to be done by a coalition of forces to protect those who bring in the aide.
In the case of Sudan, I think the government and the rebels want someone to intercede. It's obvious neither has gotten the upper-hand.
But what is most important is that right now, the refugees need help. Let's help them. But let's not go in trying to make another democracy.
We all know this conflict is about resources. Oil and billions of dollars worth of it. The Chinese and Russians need it and want it. That's why they keep blocking the UN Security council votes. Just like the French needed and wanted the Iraqi oil. They will (and have) sold their mother's souls to get it.
And we are just as bad as everyone else. Anyone in an industrial nation. We want oil, we need oil and we're going to keep going into those regions trying to set up democracies so that we can get first dibs on that oil.
We all are part of what has happened in Iraq and Darfur.
Every time you fill up your gas tank, think about it. Blood was in one way or another, spilled to get that oil. So remember, it's not just oil that spills on your hand when you overfill, it's also blood. And we won't even get into all the things we use on a daily basis that are made from oil-by-products.
Our part in this could be simpler. We could make more fuel efficient cars, we choose not to by our buying trends.
We could use fewer natural resources, we choose not to by our consumption patterns.
Life shouldn't be about what we have or own, it should be about what we experience.
Beyond the basics for comfortable and adequate shelter, good quality clothes that last for years (not sitting in our closest with the tags still on them) or tossed aside for the latest trend, good healthy food (not the garbage that is advertised to us and which we consume in excess to our own detriment) and the experiences we have with our family and friends, should be what life is about.
What I found interesting about Nick Clooney's articles on his trip to Darfur is that he just didn't talk about the atrocities, he spoke about the people. Despite their lack of basic necessities, like food, shelter and clothing (and their own feelings about the loss of their jobs and livelihood) he spoke of them singing and laughing in the camps late into the evening. The children playing at night because it is too hot to do so during the day.
Despite not having the basics, they still had each other and they reveled in the experiences they had with their friends and family.
When they were asked what they lost, they didn't speak so much about their homes and possessions, they spoke of the family they lost.
These people have nothing but they understand what is important. Life is the experience of it with family and friends, not just the gathering of possessions.
I hope we can help these people. No one gains by wasting time with "I told you so" we only gain by doing what is right. And helping these people is what is right.
Interesting commentary in the link posted by atsirk.
My following comments are in response to what was said by the commenter in the link (not what anyone has said in this blog).
I am troubled that despite the much needed media attention that the Security Council votes needed to do something in Darfur will still be blocked.
But the attention to this matter didn't come from the commenter in the link above, they came from the Clooney's involvement by going over there to see for themselves and document what they saw. As much as the commenter derides the "celeb left" for their efforts, it is just those efforts and because of their celebrity that the issue has become much more well-known.
He slams the messenger even though he agrees the message needed to get out there. There is no pleasing him.
I am hesitant to commit military action in that region and the commenter makes a good point about Iraq. I don't think Iraq as the country that stands now, can ever hope to see democracy. The ethnic factions don't want to be united. Just as they did not want to be united in Yugoslavia after WWII. It took an oppressive regime and dictator to keep the warring factions in check. And as soon as he was removed, (or died as in the case of Tito) the violence and ethnic cleansing began again in earnest.
I am not advocating dictatorship. But it seems that we continue to try to artificially create countries that don't want to be united. Our example doesn't seem to work in other parts of the world because they have centuries of hatred and past deeds from which the hatred stems.
Sometimes it makes you want to throw up your hands in disgust.
But then you look again and you see countless people, woman, men and children suffering because of these long held hatreds. How can you NOT respond and try to do something?
I suppose we could all just sit and wring out hands or make commentary on blogs that "I've been telling you about this since 2003." So what? Nobody was reading you, but they showed up to see George.
So let him use his international recognition to bring much needed attention to atrocities. Then the blog commenter and others who think celebs don't know what they are talking about can continue to make their smug comments.
Me, I don't care who brings the attention to this. I'm more interested in who is going to do something about it.
As I said before, I am hesitant to take military action, but perhaps the army logistics and air force capability, can be used to bring much needed relief. But I think this needs to be done by a coalition of forces to protect those who bring in the aide.
In the case of Sudan, I think the government and the rebels want someone to intercede. It's obvious neither has gotten the upper-hand.
But what is most important is that right now, the refugees need help. Let's help them. But let's not go in trying to make another democracy.
We all know this conflict is about resources. Oil and billions of dollars worth of it. The Chinese and Russians need it and want it. That's why they keep blocking the UN Security council votes. Just like the French needed and wanted the Iraqi oil. They will (and have) sold their mother's souls to get it.
And we are just as bad as everyone else. Anyone in an industrial nation. We want oil, we need oil and we're going to keep going into those regions trying to set up democracies so that we can get first dibs on that oil.
We all are part of what has happened in Iraq and Darfur.
Every time you fill up your gas tank, think about it. Blood was in one way or another, spilled to get that oil. So remember, it's not just oil that spills on your hand when you overfill, it's also blood. And we won't even get into all the things we use on a daily basis that are made from oil-by-products.
Our part in this could be simpler. We could make more fuel efficient cars, we choose not to by our buying trends.
We could use fewer natural resources, we choose not to by our consumption patterns.
Life shouldn't be about what we have or own, it should be about what we experience.
Beyond the basics for comfortable and adequate shelter, good quality clothes that last for years (not sitting in our closest with the tags still on them) or tossed aside for the latest trend, good healthy food (not the garbage that is advertised to us and which we consume in excess to our own detriment) and the experiences we have with our family and friends, should be what life is about.
What I found interesting about Nick Clooney's articles on his trip to Darfur is that he just didn't talk about the atrocities, he spoke about the people. Despite their lack of basic necessities, like food, shelter and clothing (and their own feelings about the loss of their jobs and livelihood) he spoke of them singing and laughing in the camps late into the evening. The children playing at night because it is too hot to do so during the day.
Despite not having the basics, they still had each other and they reveled in the experiences they had with their friends and family.
When they were asked what they lost, they didn't speak so much about their homes and possessions, they spoke of the family they lost.
These people have nothing but they understand what is important. Life is the experience of it with family and friends, not just the gathering of possessions.
I hope we can help these people. No one gains by wasting time with "I told you so" we only gain by doing what is right. And helping these people is what is right.