I had the opportunity over this weekend to catch the CNN Special: Scream Bloody Murder, where they detail different genocides that have happened the world over being sure to chronicle the historic response of the international community – inaction.
Of course the segment that they centered on Darfur caught my attention. I have been writing about Darfur for years on this blog and have tried to do everything I could to raise awareness and mobilize on this issue. There is yet more that I need to do. (Like following up with the State Comptroller’s Office about Maryland’s Darfur Divestment Bill)
One of the things that I will continue to do is pressure the Presidential Administration on meaningful action on Darfur. I am hopeful that President Barrack Obama will have a deeper commitment to Darfur. One of the things that he touted repeatedly during the presidential campaign was his judgement on the issue of the War in Iraq. While his opponnents supported a war without strategy nor sound footing, he had the aptitude to step back, look at the facts, and stand as a dissenting voice while the war drums beat across the nation. For that I applaud him.
However, it was discouraging to me to watch as even mention of Darfur faded as the presidential election progressed. While the situation in Sudan seemed to leave the spotlight of national attention, it is my ardent hope that President Obama still has Sudan on his agenda coupled with a comprehensive strategy to address the unrest there. It is my prayer that President Obama will display just as much eagerness for intelligent action in Sudan as he as shown willingness to send more troops to Afghanistan.
To those who would say: “Give President Obama a chance to get into office before you start pressuring his Administration on big issues such as this one.” I would say that current events do not afford President Obama the luxury of getting settled before he starts leading. I have no doubt that he is able to lead in ways that President Bush did not on Sudan, but the question is – will he?
I join Enough, Save Darfur, and the Genocide Intervention Network in sending a clear message to President Obama that his leadership on this issue is sorely needed and there is no time to waste. The people of Darfur have waited long enough.
Related posts:
- Morgan State U. Deltas for Darfur On Thursday, April 10, 2008 I was invited to give...
- Sudan Divestment Update! Good News Alert… A big thank you to everyone who took the time...
- Baltimore City Council considers divestment from Sudan Tomorrow – Thursday, November 8, 2007 10:30AM, I will be...
- DARFUR Bill moves ahead in Annapolis “Think Globally – Act Locally” That’s the motto I live...
- A Day for Darfur Pt.3 Joe Madison is testifying for the Senate Budget and Taxation...
I discussed my sentiments about the Historical Successes and Failures of Black Male Leadership, with a coterie of African Scholars at UC Berkeley just about two months ago. They wholly embraced my sentiments. I hope and pray that the Senator won’t turn out to be another failed so-called black leader. At the same time, however, I suspect that the solution for all of the black nations and people of the world, even those that who remained dispersed throughout the Americas, will have to come from another source!