Spare a Thought for Women in Darfur

[neonlyte]

Darfur is a province of Sudan where the government is fighting rebels and insurgents. It is a remote area of little interest outside the politics of the region where rape is used as weapon of war and a daily occurance even in the government sponsored refuge camps.

Today has been proclaimed Global Day for Darfur. You can read about it here

One word: This is a Muslim conflict - do not make the serious error of using politics to score points against muslims. This day is about women and the inhumanity they endure at the hands of their own people.

 

[672]

It disturbs me so much that this topic is never widely discussed by anyone. It's like ignoring Apartheid in Africa. ~And before some idiot steps to me and says my reference is inaccurately compared to the problem in Darfur, and that is racist, shove it. I'm black.~

The fact that the U.S. does nothing about this issue, and continues to focus on a lost cause in Iraq is so distressing, and yet telling of the U.S.'s actually reasons for invading the Iraq region. Not as an aid, surely.

But before I get knocked down, I'll shut up and go away again. Debate me all you want to, I don't exactly care what anyone says about it. On here, or anywhere else.

 

[neonlyte]

It disturbs me so much that this topic is never widely discussed by anyone. It's like ignoring Apartheid in Africa. ~And before some idiot steps to me and says my reference is inaccurately compared to the problem in Darfur, and that is racist, shove it. I'm black.~

The fact that the U.S. does nothing about this issue, and continues to focus on a lost cause in Iraq is so distressing, and yet telling of the U.S.'s actually reasons for invading the Iraq region. Not as an aid, surely.

But before I get knocked down, I'll shut up and go away again. Debate me all you want to, I don't exactly care what anyone says about it. On here, or anywhere else.

Thank You.

 

[impressive]

It also denies reports of widespread rape, pointing out that the people of Darfur are Muslim and, therefore, incapable of rape.

WTF?

 

[S-Des]

The US won't get involved because the politicians are going to be too afraid to do anything for years, due to the Iraq mess. It's terrible what's going on there and in other countries in the region. The thought of the pain women endure in those areas, just because they had the misfortune to be born there, is staggering.

 

[neonlyte]

It also denies reports of widespread rape, pointing out that the people of Darfur are Muslim and, therefore, incapable of rape.

WTF?

Yes... I also read that with some incredulity, but for the moment, I see this as a human issue and not religious. People raping other people is wrong.

 

[672]

The US won't get involved because the politicians are going to be too afraid to do anything for years, due to the Iraq mess. It's terrible what's going on there and in other countries in the region. The thought of the pain women endure in those areas, just because they had the misfortune to be born there, is staggering.

That and U.S. politicians can't make much money off of the issue. NO capital involved as a result of aid, NO aid. Iraq would have turned into one big Shopping Mall had the occupants of the region not realized U.S. intent and turned insurgent. I'm not applauding the use of violence against agitators like my country, but both sides, insurgents and U.S. military, are very wrong, and very stuck in this conflict.

Helping Darfur women just isn't in the books because of the war. And it's not even a possibility in the future, because there is no financial motivation. Just disgusting. Assumptive of me, but really. Look at it. Honestly. What would America gain helping, what ignorant, middle Americans consider the "enemy". At least those who don't participate in CNN polls.

Then again, what else are all of those sexually frustrated women in the Heartland going to thinking about, if not the evil Muslim women getting what God thinks they deserve?

 

[neonlyte]

The US won't get involved because the politicians are going to be too afraid to do anything for years, due to the Iraq mess.

And because they don't have anything we want...

It's terrible what's going on there and in other countries in the region. The thought of the pain women endure in those areas, just because they had the misfortune to be born there, is staggering.

Some of the stories linked to the news feed are stomach churning. The women cannot even go in search of firewood in fear of getting raped by the soldiers supposed to be protecting them.

 

[neonlyte]

My mission today, and maybe for a couple of days, is to keep this where people can see it, sorry if that offends, it is how it is.

 

[oggbashan]

It also denies reports of widespread rape, pointing out that the people of Darfur are Muslim and, therefore, incapable of rape.

WTF?

Under some versions of Sharia Law, a woman isn't considered to have been raped unless she can produce four male witnesses of the rape. Since that level of proof is unlikely, rape isn't called 'rape' very often. What is also in some versions of Sharia is that if she hasn't got the witnesses and alleges rape, she can be convicted of sex outside marriage and be stoned to death for adultery.

Those versions of Sharia are about as relevant to most Muslims as 'An Eye for an Eye' in the Old Testament are for Christians.

Og

 

[Guest]

That and U.S. politicians can't make much money off of the issue. NO capital involved as a result of aid, NO aid. Iraq would have turned into one big Shopping Mall had the occupants of the region not realized U.S. intent and turned insurgent. I'm not applauding the use of violence against agitators like my country, but both sides, insurgents and U.S. military, are very wrong, and very stuck in this conflict.

Helping Darfur women just isn't in the books because of the war. And it's not even a possibility in the future, because there is no financial motivation. Just disgusting. Assumptive of me, but really. Look at it. Honestly. What would America gain helping, what ignorant, middle Americans consider the "enemy". At least those who don't participate in CNN polls.

Then again, what else are all of those sexually frustrated women in the Heartland going to thinking about, if not the evil Muslim women getting what God thinks they deserve?

I live in the heartland. Isn't it possible to make your point about how horrific this situation is without insulting others?

for women in peril

 

[cloudy]

I live in the heartland. Isn't it possible to make your point about how horrific this situation is without insulting others?

for some people, apparently not. Stereotypes abound, even among those who think they don't hold any.

for women in peril

Indeed.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Neon, I salute your humane impulse, but I'm conflicted. I won't turn this political, but I just can't see how declaring a "Global Day for Darfur" does those people one damn bit of good. It looks more like a way for those of us in the peaceful, prosperous parts of the world to assuage what is essentially a form of survivor's guilt. It's more about us than them. If I say anything more I'll get political, so I'll just leave it at that.


PS. When I opened this thread I thought it might contain a solicitation for charity, and my reaction was OK, I'll send a check. But my second thought was to remember that it's not really that kind of tragedy, is it? Sending grain would only feed the armies of warlords. I'll stop now.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Dupe post. Lit's having problems.

 

[neonlyte]

Neon, I salute your humane impulse, but I'm conflicted. I won't turn this political, but I just can't see how declaring a "Global Day for Darfur" does those people one damn bit of good. It looks more like a way for those of us in the peaceful, prosperous parts of the world to assuage what is essentially a form of survivor's guilt. It's more about us than them. If I say anything more I'll get political, so I'll just leave it at that.


PS. When I opened this thread I thought it might contain a solicitation for charity, and my reaction was OK, I'll send a check. But my second thought was to remember that it's not really that kind of tragedy, is it? Sending grain would only feed the armies of warlords. I'll stop now.

Directly? Not a blind bit of good. It is not about 'survivors guilt' either. It is about raising awareness. These terrible things happen, collectively we need awareness of these events even if our ability to change them seems remote at best. If you talk to a politician, ask them what they attitude is to the rape of women in Darfur. You'll get the usual platitudes, but you might also make them think, and somewhere along the line, the message may get through that we collectively have a duty to uphold the human rights of every citizen no matter how far they live from our shores.

Thank you reading.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

It disturbs me so much that this topic is never widely discussed by anyone. It's like ignoring Apartheid in Africa. ~And before some idiot steps to me and says my reference is inaccurately compared to the problem in Darfur, and that is racist, shove it. I'm black.~

The fact that the U.S. does nothing about this issue, and continues to focus on a lost cause in Iraq is so distressing, and yet telling of the U.S.'s actually reasons for invading the Iraq region. Not as an aid, surely.

But before I get knocked down, I'll shut up and go away again. Debate me all you want to, I don't exactly care what anyone says about it. On here, or anywhere else.

So you would have the US invade another country? Because that's what it would be. Darfur is a province of Sudan a soverine country and the US can't really do anything except offer help, which it has done. Placing troops on the ground would constitute an invasion, do you want the US to do this again?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

If nothing else ever comes out of Iraq let it be this: Muslims killing and raping Muslims just fucking ain't any of our damn business.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Deleted. Darn it's hard to not go political here.

 

[yui]

for all the innocent victims of violence. Being a victim sucks. Regardless of who you are or who people think you are. Peace.

 

[oggbashan]

The will is there in several countries, with the African states currently providing limited peacekeepers, with the UN and with other organisations.

The reality on the ground is that this is a civil war and the women of Darfur are the victims, and on the losing side.

Intervening in a civil war is very difficult for anyone. Peacekeepers are likely to be targets for both sides.

Og

 

[neonlyte]

Deleted. Darn it's hard to not go political here.

Think of it as a test.

Darfur is an unsolveable problem. An estimate 900,000 have died in the region. One camp reports 21 rapes each week. Politics is the root of the problem in Sudan, not the politics we understand or have a solution for. What we do understand is suffering, and needless suffering at the hands of your own people is as bad as it gets. There is no need for comment. There is a need to remember.

 

[mismused]

delete

 

[neonlyte]

My heart is heavy about this, and has been for many a year. As someone posted earlier:

What more can we say?

I've sought for words to reply to your elequant post, trying to temper my feelings and avoid sinking either into despair or accusation against a system and a culture we barely understand. I think we both agree these women are victims because no one cares enough to remove the stigma from their lives. Their lives have no value outside of their culture, we might care, but we have no influence.

My purpose with this thread was to draw attention to their plight. I cannot think of a single practical, and acceptable, measure that would ease their burden. It is because of that, because the alternatives would lead to other forms of hardship for countless tens of thousands of equally innocent Sudanese, we should keep their plight in our minds and in our hearts.

 

[shereads]

A long, slow holocaust. Sucks.

 

[shereads]

Darfur video on RealPlayer (low res)

http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/ramfiles/6734l_darfurottashcamp.ram