“Now, after careful deliberation, I have decided that the United States should take military action against Syrian regime targets. This would not be an open-ended intervention. We would not put boots on the ground. Instead, our action would be designed to be limited in duration and scope. But I’m confident we can hold the Assad regime accountable for their use of chemical weapons, deter this kind of behavior, and degrade their capacity to carry it out.”
Such were the word spoken by President Obama on August 31st explaining to the American public why the United States is engaging in a confrontation with Syria.
The attack of the government of Syria against it’s own people it’s, without a doubt, a crime against humanity, I don’t think there is a single American that doesn’t find this act a cowardly, repulsive and despicable act. However, unlike the attack on Saddam Hussein – where there were no WOMD – this time we have very few allies. Perhaps it’s precisely because of the Iraq fiasco that our allies do not want to back us up on this, but regardless of the reasons of their refusal, the truth is we have almost no one on our side but we are going to take matters into our own hands… We are once more getting involved in someone else’s business and the outcome is almost predictable… I truly hope I’m wrong.
I love President Obama but I cannot approve this attack, at least not without knowing what comes next if things don’t go as planned. I want to know what’s “plan B”, or “C” or “D”? We have not been totally informed, we don’t know what will happen if our military strategy fails.
China and Russia can’t see eye to eye on almost anything, actually they’re enemies except when going against the US; then they are allies and both of them are forces that we don’t want to mess with and they are backing the Syrian government. Does the President think China and Russia are going to do nothing to help Syria against our attacks? What are the plans if China and Russia decide to defend the Syrian government? This attack could open the Pandora’s box or a can of worms and be the prelude for WWIII.
It is true that their own government indiscriminately slaughtered thousands of people, presumably innocent adults and for certain innocent children. I understand that the means in which these people were killed is illegal – the world has banned the use of chemical weapons – that these weapons could be used against anyone in the world and represents a clear and present danger to us all. But, where is diplomacy? Where have negotiations gone – with Syria and in case Syria doesn’t want to negotiate, with our allies and their allies? Why aren’t the neighboring countries intercede or join us? Aren’t they in more pressing urgency to disarm Assad or at minimum to negotiate with him than us?
What is happening in Syria is a civil war. No attacks or confrontations have occurred, yet, with neighboring countries, but by the US getting involved in what up to know has been a bloody and even unfair regional war – a civil war – it will turn into an international war that could easily evolve into WWIII.
It is not the first time a government has purposely mass murdered its own people and we have been idle. The government of Sudan has been doing it for a while; women, men and children are being blown to pieces in Darfur on a daily basis and while these massacres were taking place, we’ve condemned it, we spoke out against it but we did absolutely nothing. Where were we when the people of Rwanda were being slaughtered? We were infuriated, but we kept our distance from these killings. Why?
The difference between Rwanda, Sudan and Syria is not the color of the people’s skin; it’s not necessarily the danger to neighboring countries or the way these governments have chosen to kill their own people. No, it’s none of these. The truth is that our government feels irate and offended when atrocities such as these take place in equal proportion to the riches of the country perpetrating these massacres. If the country has no riches we don’t lift a finger, that’s the cruel reality. Syria is a rich country with access to our most desirable and precious commodity: oil and it is this commodity the trigger for our country to get involved in a war that is not ours, it is oil the lubricant that sets the wheels of war in motion, that turns us into the police of the world even when all we will accomplish is to amplify the hate the Middle East feels against us – this will only create more terrorists, more Al’ Qaeda’s militants that will perpetuate the never-ending “war on terror” achieving the same level of success as our “war on drugs.”
I know that my opinion will make no difference in what will take place and our involvement in Syria, but I have to let everyone know where I stand on this issue. I can’t support another war, any war for that matter, when our country is claiming to be broke, when we are taking food away from our own children, when we are closing schools and firing the teachers because we can’t afford them… but we are not broke to drone Pakistan or Iran, we’re not broke to spend trillions of dollars in an unsuccessful engagement in Afghanistan and now we are not broke to attack Syria. What about our own children? What about our seniors? When are we going to defend our children and seniors against poverty, our youth against a crowded classroom and a poor education? When can our seniors feel safe that the government is not going to cut their only source of income? When are we going to create more jobs? But of course, our poor, our children and our seniors don’t own an oil well so it’s perfectly fine to take away from them the dry bone we throw them to feed the monster of war.
To read the full transcript of President Obama's speech, click here.
China. If we close our eyes, we all can envision the ancient culture, the beautiful hills, the monumental Great Wall, cordial people and their delicate features, the exotic music and the lovely tea. Isn't it true?
China has become one of the strongest financial countries in the world, and we keep pouring our money into that regime. The Chinese society differs completely from ours. The Chinese government determines what its citizens are allowed to do, how many children a couple can have, what you are to study, what you can read, the music you are allowed to hear and even the future of a newborn child, things that are unimaginable in our culture.
And their food, everyone loves their food with those wonderful noodles, delicate flavors, perfect balance of vegetables and for those that enjoy a succulent shrimp, a perfectly cooked piece of beef or pork they have wonderful dishes as well. And the fortune cookies, that all of us want regardless that they are never eaten and that all we care about is the fortune that hides inside, even when it makes no sense and we know it’s fake, they are fun and we want them. Of course, their culinary art is very different outside China; it’s altered to fit our less “refined” taste buds. For starters, it is true that rats are part of their menu, and what is even worse than rats, they eat dogs and cats. It breaks my heart to see the barbaric way in which they kill these poor animals, animals that for most of the civilized world are considered to be our companions and our best friends. Being the good businessmen they are, they save the skin of these poor creatures and sell them to clothing factories where they will use it on the collars and cuffs on the coats that can be found at many stores in the U.S. and all over the world… And we do nothing; after all… it’s their costume.
China took over Taiwan in 1949 and Tibet in 1950. While Taiwan is considered by China as a state of the republic, the Taiwanese people consider themselves a separate and independent country. So far, even when the People’s Republic of China thinks otherwise, they have not invaded militarily, but according to the experts China is growing impatient and it is something that can happen at any time. The Tibet wasn’t as lucky. In 1950, China invaded Tibet and forced that peaceful country to be part of China and, as a result of that subjugation in 1959, the Tibet gave the world their leader, their precious son, the Dalai Lama. While in exile, the Dalai Lama has been the greatest representation for the Tibetan monks, the people of Tibet and their cause. Promoting change without violence in his country, the Dalai Lama has been a relentless and notorious ambassador that almost single-handedly placed Tibet on the map and brought international attention to their cause. The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and after so many years, he hasn’t given up and continues to demand peace and the autonomy for his country. And we admire him but… this problem is so far away, and aren’t Asians all the same? What's the problem? Sadly, that is the mentality of most people in the US.
After China stopped being the isolated country it was, it has rapidly risen to become one of the financial powers of the world. What they have done with that power is deplorable.
China began their invasion to our markets in the late 1990s and, I must admit this, thanks to a Democrat: Bill Clinton. The idea was that we were more industrialized than China and China with a population exceeding any other country of the world, represented a great market for companies in the United States to export their goods to. Sounds great, doesn’t it? However, that is not what happened. Since the very beginning, China was importing more than we were exporting to them. China, having opened their market attracted International companies manufacturing all type of goods: electronics, clothing, household appliances, automobiles, avionics, toys, canned goods… you name it, they made it and cheap. China was and still is a formidable competitor and it is very savvy when conducting business deals. We export to China raw materials to China for almost nothing and in return, China sells us back products made with the raw materials we sold them at a much higher price.
For example, in 2000, the US exports to China totaled $16,185 million and imported from China a total of $100,108 millions. In 2005, we exported $41,192 million and imported from China $243,470 million. Last year, we exported $103,878 million and imported from China $399,335 million. There is no way we can catch up, and we keep borrowing from them. China has us by the balls and will not let go, unless we do something about it! Trade should be equal in value, if we import from China $100 million, we export to China $100 million otherwise, and we are basically giving them our materials for nothing and killing our country in the process. In return, they import toxic goods, that for reasons unbeknownst to me, fail to be tested by the U.S. Customs or Homeland Security. They have managed to import toys with led, poisonous pet food and drywall with a high concentration of sulfuric acid. These manufacturers haven’t been banned; their products simply have been recalled.
It seems that China does not care about human life, their own, animals and even less the lives of those people such as the people of Tibet, the people of Taiwan, or the people of Sudan. Their thirst for power is far greater than any humanity they may have – and I don’t think the government of the People’s Republic of China has any humanity in it. They have realized that money and natural resources translates into power and while they are in pursuit of becoming the number one power of the world, they are stopping at nothing.
In an effort to get their hands on the oil from Sudan, China together with Russia is exporting weapons to the Sudan’s regime regardless of the genocide that is taking place in that country and in particular Darfur. Regardless of the sanctions and embargo imposed by the U.S. to Sudan, China has been “aiding” al-Bashir in his ethnic cleansing… and we do nothing about it. We are continuing with our trade as nothing is happening. We continue to have diplomatic relations with them. But who are we to criticize our government? For us to criticize our government we should have the morals to do it, we don't.
I bet that on Memorial Day’s sale, the people of this country will be waiting outside Walmart’s doors for the store to open and run inside in a frenzy to buy all the Chinese junk they can get their hands on! We don’t care what the Chinese are doing or the impact they have on our economy. We complain that there are no jobs, I have news for you… every time you buy at Walmart you are helping our economy sink, our factories close and you are in a way, selling our country to China over a plasma TV, an iPod, or any other frivolity with the seal of “Made in China”.
學習普通話快的速度，我們將這個國家將很快成為中國美國
(in case you don't know what that says, it says: Learn Mandarin fast, at the speed we are going this country will soon be the United States of China)
On April 3rd of this year, the Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) released
a study that corroborates what many of us have been saying for about a decade:
That the people of Sudan, in particular Darfur, have been enduring a constant
attack that at best kills them and at worse leaves them facing a slow death, an ethnic cleansing.
There have been numerous accounts of all type of torture imaginable perpetrated
on the non-Arab speaking citizens of Sudan: rapes, beatings, electrocutions,
gunshots, bombings, burnings, amputations and killings that, for
reasons incomprehensible to me, the world has refused to act, react or admit that these
atrocities are taking place under their watch for a decade. The governments of the
“civilized” world have sided with China and Russia – the two major forces
that are supporting Omar al-Bashir in his ethnic cleansing.
Perhaps I am being too harsh in saying that the world or
governments are siding with China and Russia – but isn’t doing nothing the same as
accepting? I can understand that there is too much at risk, the last thing anyone
wants is a war, especially against these world superpowers; however, there is no
excuse for us to continue conducting business with them as if they were not monsters
against humanity. By continuing with “business as usual,” we are in a way
helping perpetuate the massacre and we are supporting the tormentor.
The PHR's study might help to put pressure on
those with the power to do something. So far, there has been no reliable
proof that any of these atrocities were taking place, at least that is what the
governments of the world have claimed up to now. This study will
help shine a light on this matter that, perhaps because it is so atrocious, others
have refused to accept it and what’s more important, do something about it.
This study reveals that nearly half of the women treated
were victims of rape or gang rape. There were even reports of men that were
sexually assaulted and some even raped. The evidence also showed that injuries inflicted on these
people were consistent and showed evidence of beatings, fires, amputations and all other
forms of torture. We must remember the evidence at hand is only from those that
survived or reached a medical center; how many others died on the
field or on the way to the center are unknown. Every single piece of the evidence
recorded and examined by PHR was consistent with the claims.
Every single one. PHR stated in their study “Our
findings show that in all of the medical records that contained sufficient
detail, the medical evidence was considered to be at least consistent with (if
not highly consistent with or virtually diagnostic of) the human rights
violations disclosed by the patients.” Further in the study, PHR
said, “Rape and other forms of sexual
violence have been recognized as war crimes and crimes against humanity, as
well as instruments of genocide.”
The study represents a milestone that will aid the
International Criminal Courts in proceeding with more tangible proof and with
any luck receive the support of other nations in the capture of Omar al-Bashir
and put an end to his reign of terror.
There might be something worthwhile celebrating this Easter
week: Hopefully these findings will mark the beginning of the end for al-Bashir and a new beginning for
the people of Darfur.
I am an animal lover. Seeing the above pictures not only breaks my heart, but infuriates me. I can't understand how people can be so cruel as to starve an animal and see them being consumed, day by day, and not feel sorry for them. Where are the neighbors, friends or visitors that see this and don't report it? I think that people that are capable of doing this should be jailed, and jailed for a long, long time. There are no excuses for this... None!
Then, I see these atrocities, these children dying the worst of deaths, painfully and slowly dying of starvation... And the world is doing nothing, we are doing nothing and I am doing nothing!
We see in the news so many irrelevant, sensationalistic news about if Paris Hilton was seen going wild at a nightclub in one extravagant city at any given country. Perhaps we are attentive to the latest love affair of the rich and famous. Maybe what attract us is the latest gossips escaping from Hollywood. I don't know, but certainly it is not what is taking place in Darfur since it is never in the news.
And we complain... boy, do we complain!!! I complain if my car needs a tune-up and it is going to cost me more than I expected or because now that winter is gone the electric bill is higher... oh, and I constantly bitch about paying at the pump ten cents more per gallon than I did the week before. We complain because our lives are not like the lives we watch on a TV sitcom or at the movies, because our lives are not "perfect", because we are not wealthy. We are a society of complainers.
When I see these pictures I truly feel ashamed of myself for being so trivial and so selfish. These poor people would give anything for their problems to be like mine, instead, they are watching their children die and there is nothing they can do about it. Imagine what it must feel like not being able to protect your child because you too are dying. The pain and suffering must be unimaginable!
Yet, there are things we all can do. It may seem too little, but surely it is more than doing nothing at all. This is what you can do to help according to The Valentino Achak den Foundation:
1. WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE
Every time Valentino and Dave talk to experts on U.S. policy on Sudan, they ask what citizens can do to help. These experts always insist that one of the best things is to write a letter—an actual, personalized letter—insisting that this representative or senator do something about the ongoing genocide in Darfur, and about the gross misconduct of the Sudanese government in Khartoum. Remember that in 2005, the U.S. brought to bear great influence in brokering the peace between the north (Khartoum) and the south (the Sudan People's Liberation Army). When the U.S. wants to influence the Sudanese government, they surely have the power to do so. You can find out what your representatives have or haven’t done on Darfur by checking their individual records at www.darfurscores.com.
After writing a letter, call 1-800-GENOCIDE. This free hotline will ask for your zip code and then connect you to your governor, your senator, or directly to the White House switchboard. For some ideas of what to say to your elected officials, read on.
2. TELL WASHINGTON THAT TRADING INFORMATION FOR DARFURIS IS UNACCEPTABLE
Many experts believe that one of the primary reasons Washington is dragging their feet in doing much about Darfur is due to Khartoum's help in their War on Terror. To back up: In the 1990s, Osama bin Laden spent six years in Khartoum. Sudan is where he built his network of terror. While being hosted by the Sudanese government, he provided Khartoum with millions of dollars. In the late 1990s, after the bombings of American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the U.S. exerted great pressure on Sudan to expel bin Laden. They did so. (Again, the U.S. can have great influence in Sudan when they want to.)
After 9-11, the Khartoum government became a very cooperative partner in the War on Terror. The U.S. could count on Sudan's intelligence community to provide information about any suspected terrorists who had worked with bin Laden in Sudan. Because the Sudanese proved themselves useful in Washington's terrorist hunts, many experts believe that the Bush administration was loath to push Sudan too hard on the genocide in Darfur, lest Khartoum cease to be helpful in the War on Terror. These same experts believe strongly that the U.S. need not be so timid. The Obama administration has an opportunity to change U.S. policy in Sudan; Washington can still exert pressure on Khartoum without fear of losing a partner in intelligence-gathering. And even if they do lose this partner, we believe that trading the lives of hundreds of thousands of Darfuris is not worth whatever bits of information we're able to glean from Khartoum's intelligence.
3. SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT SUDAN
A number of nonprofits are aiding refugees and are working for peace in Sudan. This is by no means a complete list, but these organizations have assisted Valentino and Dave, so we'll start with them:
Save the Children: When Valentino and Dave traveled to Sudan in 2003, they stayed in the compound of Save the Children's base in Marial Bai. Save the Children is involved in many efforts to aid the Sudanese who have suffered as a result of civil war, and has been instrumental in bringing former slaves and abductees back to their villages of origin.
Concern: In 2003, Valentino and Dave flew on a Concern cargo flight back to Marial Bai. Concern brings food and supplies to war-ravaged areas. Their work in Sudan now focuses on nutrition, water sanitation, and shelter for people affected by the war.
The UNHCR: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees maintained the refugee camps at Pinyudo and Kakuma mentioned in What Is the What. The agency is now working to help refugees return to their communities in Southern Sudan, and to make the reintegration process a safe and sustainable one.
International Crisis Group: This is a worldwide think tank that monitors, analyzes, and suggests solutions to conflicts and humanitarian crises around the world. Home of John Prendergast, one of the foremost American experts on Sudan—and the expert on whom Valentino and Dave continually rely. We believe that their work in Sudan, and on U.S. policy toward Sudan, is crucial.
4. SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LOBBYING FOR AN END TO GENOCIDE IN SUDAN
Just a few of these organizations:
ENOUGH: The ENOUGH campaign seeks to unite and strengthen the efforts of grassroots activists, policy makers, advocates, concerned journalists, and others by giving them up-to-date information from on the ground in Darfur and offering practical pressure points to end the violence.
The Save Darfur Coalition: The SDC includes more than 170 organizations working toward more international involvement in combating the killing in Darfur. Contributions allow them to continue raising awareness in the media and directing pressure toward policymakers.
Genocide Intervention Network: GI-Net supports African Union peacekeepers currently on the ground in Sudan by channeling private donations into the resources they need and catalyzing government support for the peacekeepers. They also started the anti-genocide hotline 1-800-GENOCIDE.
The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation aims to empower war-affected Southern Sudanese communities by constructing schools, increasing access to quality education, improving girls’ enrollment in school, creating new teacher-training programs, and promoting literacy for children, women, and men.
In May 2009, the Foundation opened a brand new secondary school in Valentino's hometown of Marial Bai, Southern Sudan. It's the very first secondary school in the entire region. Donations to Valentino’s foundation go directly to support this new school, and to expand the campus into a large educational center, comprising the following:
The nine-classroom secondary school featuring a science lab, computer rooms, solar power, and student dormitories.
A teacher-training college bringing together local teachers, members of the Sudanese diaspora, and Western educators through collaborative teaching methods and symposia.
A library offering literacy programs for children, women, and men, a well-lighted study space for students, and a collection of more than 10,000 books.
A community center for local organizations, women’s groups, and cultural events, as well as classes for vocational training and community health and hygiene.
Sports facilities and programming for youth enrichment.Now that the school is built, we need your help to keep it running and to finish the educational center; please consider making a donation .
To donate by mail, send your tax-deductible check to The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, 849 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110. You will be sent a notice confirming the donation and a tax receipt.
6. SUPPORT SUDANESE COMMUNITIES IN YOUR REGION
There are Sudanese all over the United States, and it doesn't take long to find a community near you. Volunteer at a local non-profit organization that helps refugees, such as the International Rescue Committee, or use search tools like Volunteer Match. Rest assured that communities of exiles and refugees near you can use your help—financially, logistically, and with the many other adjustments to life in the United States.
7. SUPPORT DIVESTMENT EFFORTS
The Sudan Divestment Task Force is coordinating dozens of "targeted divestment" campaigns around the world. Their approach focuses on maximizing impact on the Sudanese government while protecting Sudanese civilians and the organizations that provide for them. Since U.S.-based pension funds have more than $90 billion invested in Sudan-related holdings, the potential impact is significant. Several states have already adopted the targeted divestment model, and legislation is pending in many others. You can help by getting involved in campaigns in your area—in your city, your state, your school, or your company. The Task Force also has everything you need to know to start a new campaign if none exists where you live.
8. SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN
According to the peace agreement signed between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army, in 2011 the south will be able to vote on whether or not they want to secede from the north and become their own autonomous country. This is the course favored by Valentino Deng and most Southern Sudanese. But in order for this to happen, the international community needs to maintain pressure on Khartoum. If the current course continues, whereby the world stands idly by and watches Khartoum annihilate its own people in Darfur, there will be little chance that the Sudanese government will honor their agreement to allow the secession of Southern Sudan. Already the Southern Sudanese are preparing for another civil war. But it doesn't have to be this way. If the world supports the Southern Sudanese financially and politically, the nascent government of Southern Sudan will grow stronger, and Khartoum will find it more difficult to violate their agreement.
9. PRESS FOR PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE REGIME
The same government prosecuting the genocide in Sudan is the one that was primarily responsible for two million deaths in Southern Sudan. How long are we going to allow this to occur without imposing some kind of cost? In July 2009, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity-but much more can be done by the international community to enact punitive measures against Sudan. In your letters to members of Congress, you should demand that they support U.N. sanctions on responsible Sudanese officials and their businesses, and demand that the U.S. declassifies and shares its considerable intelligence with the International Criminal Court to accelerate indictments against those officials.
10. JOIN AN ORGANIZATION
Many advocacy organizations are already working to help end the suffering in Sudan. Here are just a few resources available to you:
For students: With over 600 college and high-school chapters across the nation, STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur) is one of the largest grassroots efforts advocating an end to the genocide in Darfur. Students should visit the STAND website to find out how they can get involved.
For congregations: If you belong to a church, synagogue, mosque, or temple, get your community involved in Sudan advocacy. Many national religious organizations have taken up the cause, but it is more meaningful when a local group contacts their congressperson or senator and tells them that this issue is important to them as voters and as people of faith. Congregations can learn more by joining the Save Darfur Congregational Network, which offers Faith Action Packs with specific resources for faith-based organizations.
For communities: Local groups have played a critical role in pushing for action on Darfur. At the Save Darfur website, you can search for community organizations in your area, or learn how to start your own group.
Don't wait for others to do something about this and don't wait for tomorrow. Do whatever you can to help, spread the word and tell others what they can do to help. Keep this tragedy in the spotlight, bring attention to it and together we will succeed. Saving a life should be always be a priority, always.
