We have all failed Darfur

Editorial, The Daily Campus

Feb 10, 2005 — In the final weeks of the fall semester, the Editorial Board of The Daily Campus made a conscious decision to omit a serious international situation from inclusion with our staff editorials. From time to time, board members bring ideas to the table which receive muted responses, such as a cold-blooded murder case. Members ask each other “what would we say about this issue, that murder is terrible and should not be committed?”

In these cases, devoting over 400 words to the subject would only produce an obvious message that no reader would perceive novel in any way – yes, of course murder is terrible and should not be committed. Instead, the board devotes efforts to other subjects that draw controversy, require original thinking and an innovative stance while proposing solutions and raising questions.

Thus, we passed over what we intentionally concluded was an issue of such immense obviousness that we had no need to discuss it, on the grounds that “yes, genocide is terrible and it must be stopped.” The Darfur region of the Sudan – what else was there to say?

We were right in our reason, but wrong in our judgment. In the time that’s passed from then to now, our stance on the issue has not changed; our sympathy goes out to the victims of murder – as few as 70,000 – and to those who have been driven from their homes by violence – as few as 2 million men, women and children. Our support remains for the international community to unite against the Janjaweed militia and bring long-awaited peace to those who still have a chance for survival.

What has changed, however, is our understanding of the international community and an utter, despicable disregard for the humanity of an impoverished country on a forgotten continent. The United Nations Security Council has offered no significant help as China and Russia have economic and military interests that rely on the stability of the Sudanese government, and therefore the sanctions proposals made by the United States would be vetoed. Early last week, the U.N. stated that genocide had not occurred, meaning one thing – the slaughter will continue.

Because popular support is nonexistent, the international community has failed. But if the world doesn’t know about Darfur or doesn’t care, we start at UConn, here and now.

Everyone who reads this editorial should be compelled to act. Start by visiting savedarfur.org, the home of a coalition of humanitarian groups involved with the crisis. Then call or write to the following public leaders listed below whose influence could make the difference. Until we take our steps, we have all failed.