Darfur Vigil Vigil Day #17, May 30: THE USA's FINEST HOUR? To Rescue Darfur we must make it so.

Washington DC (but away from the White House on a special project for a few more days)

Yes, I am very tired. A special project is allowing for little sleep for a few days now, and then in quite uncomfortable upright sitting position (the rules in public spaces :-) ). The following may be the addled thinking of one that is fatigued. THE FOLLOWING MAY BE INSPIRED VISION OF ONE THAT IS FULLY COMMITTED AND WHO HAS THE TIME TO PRAY/PONDER/STUDY/PERSEVERE 24/7.

DARFUR COULD PROMPT OUR FINEST HOUR as a nation, as a people. DARFUR COULD PROMPT US TO CHANGE DIRECTION FROM DEATHLY, CANCEROUS SELFISHNESS BACK TOWARD LIFE-GIVING PRINCIPAL, COMPASSION AND CONTRIBUTION.

No, this is not an idle thought out of the blue. It is not wishfull thinking. It comes from immersion in the History of Genocide (Power's, "Problem from Hell"), in the last 2 months news regarding Darfur campaigns, and from a review of today's horriffic, daunting news from around the world regarding Darfur on passionofthepresent.org.

The realization THAT WE COULD BE AT THE BRINK OF OUR FINEST HOUR, A TURNING POINT TOWARD A NATION OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN HUMANITY, THE FULFILLMENT OF OUR FOREFATHER'S VISION, is the confluence of:

1. As a US people we have gone way beyond any prior group in 100 years toward standing FOR a people suffering Genocide. WE ARE INVOLVED.
*The administration and congress have gone way beyond - declaring Genocide, deploying top level personel, leading the world in aid. Miraculous.
*Faith Organizations of Every Belief have gone way beyond in encouraging the administration to take an aggressive stand.
*Students and citizens have gone way beyond in encouraging institutions, the administration, and other citizens to Rescue people suffering Genocide.

2. To realize our dream of Rescuing and Restoring Darfur we must become - HEROICALLY COMMITTED - we must stand WITH a persecuted people. It will take no less than an unprecidented humanitarian commitment. I will defer to the historians (I am not one), but I suspect it is true that when one looks at the net, altruistic/compassionate/humanity COMMITMENT that is demanded in the face of ZERO immediate "national interest", if we RESCUE AND RESTORE DARFUR we will have mustered and committed a level of HUMANITY NEVER BEFORE SEEN FROM THIS, OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN HISTORY.
*We must stand up to, and back down other world powers - China, Russia and France - from their obstruction of humanity for Darfur.
*The level of financial commitment with no hope of return is astronomical for the requisite aid an peace keeping support. The humanitarian requirements are gargantuan, and exploding.
*The level of MORAL LEADERSHIP REQUIRED OF THE US, with nothing but the hope of ZERO NATIONAL REWARDS, is heroic.
*The level of LEADERSHIP, SACRIFICE FOR OTHERS, AND COMMITMENT required of WE THE PEOPLE is unparalleled.

But were we to persevere and prevail, for whom would it be the greater miracle, Darfur, USA, all FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HUMANITY?

In our response to the needs of Dafur, is this the great turningpoint for humankind? One way or the other?

THE BRINK OF OUR FINEST HOUR? Nothing less will Rescue and Restore Darfur. Nothing less will save our soul; our future?

Great conversation at 1am this morning. Thanks fellas. Keep on!

Day #16, May 29: Devastating Darfur Disappointment

Elsewhere besides the White House for the most part.

The news from Eric Reeves that the Darfur "Peace Agreement" is a stall tactic, a paper tiger, an empty rescue convoy - is devestating for Darfur. I'm wrestling with what to do, how to help. Still in DC, but called away from the White House for a while.

Family came to visit me yesterday. That was wonderful. Met a young woman that has just biked accross country with a group raising $90,000 for a noble 3rd world oriented Physicians group.

The joy of spending all efforts directly towards helping others feels like "home."

Day 15, May 28: Mass Murder by Deception; BY U S

My point is not to accuse individuals. That just is not important right now; it would be a distraction. It would kill more time.

Besides, the problem is We The People – the deceivers rightly perceive that WE DON’T WANT THE TRUTH. This has been the way of EVERY OTHER GENOCIDE. It is WHY GENOCIDE HAPPENS.

My point is to bring to light what is happening. Those with any interest in Darfur have had hope, optimism for weeks now due to the “Peace Agreement” that was negotiated. Yes, anyone with any sense had severe reservations about the agreement – that Sudan would not observe it, that the international community would not implement the 20,000 peace keepers, or would not implement them in time.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS AGREEMENT WAS ALL A DECEPTION! A deception that will:
1. Allow Khartoum to finish the job at whatever pace they wish – solidifying the genocide – the sterilization, the cleansing of Darfur;
2. Allow the US Government (State Dept, Presidency, Congress…) to win political support for their fine efforts;
3. Allow the US Government to avoid the risks and costs of ACTUALLY RESCUING AND RESTORING DARFUR.

Read the recent New Republic publication by The Hero of Darfur - Eric Reeve, Smith College - and see if you can retain any optimism for the recent Peace Process. Read Reeve’s work and see if you can stifle your outrage; your horror; your despair.

China and Russia. Did you too wonder why they had finally allowed talk of 20,000 UN peace keepers?!?!?!?!!? EASY! THE PEACE KEEPERS ARE TO BE AUTHORIZED AT A LEVEL THAT COULDN’T DO ANYTHING BUT WATCH!!!!!!! AT THE LEVEL OF PLANNED AUTORIZATION THEY COULD NOT APPROACH, COULD NOT BROACH, WOULD BE LIGH-YEARS AWAY FROM THE ALL IMPORTANT TASK OF DISARMING THE JANJAWEED.

WINDOW DRESSING. TOTAL IMPOTENCE.

KILLING TIME.

Day #14, May27: When a thought kills

White House

What is killing folks in Darfur? A thought. Our thought, we in the US. I don’t share this to make us feel bad. I share this to help awaken us that WE CAN RESCUE AND RESTORE THESE FOLKS.

The proof? Who can doubt that if Citizens and Digitaries filled President’s Park, FILLED IT, on Hunger Strike in solidarity with Darfur, Standing WITH Darfur, that the UN troops would be on the ground FAST? IF you need to multiply this times 10 major cities, I’m ok with that. Fill a park with hunger strikers in 10 major cities if you need to.

The point is, WE THE PEOPLE CAN STOP THIS IF WE WANT TO. IF IT DOES NOT STOP, IT IS BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO.

The thought that kills? THAT WE CAN’T STOP THIS GENOCIDE; that it is up to the government, the UN, China, Russia, France. NO. We in the US, WE THE PEOPLE, have enough power. What is stopping us? The thought that we can’t. That it is up to someone else.

Day #13 May 26: A Vigil

White House

A day or so before coming to Washington I was taking to my friend. Although much younger than me, this friend has been more of a social activist than I. My sense was that I was headed on a Vigil, but I mentioned that I didn't really know what Vigil meant.

My friend said that vigil was like what a mother did when a child was sick; and that a vigil is what people do over a dead person. To this I said, I like the first one, but not the one about the dead person.

Well, what I am doing is somewhere in between. I am vigiling over the people in Darfur, and they are dying. We can save them, but so far, we are not. They are dying - not for lack of words, bills, resolutions, trips, blogs, news.... but for lack of action; for lack of people standing WITH Darfur.

But also, I am Vigiling over my fellow man, primarily in the US. In this case, it is like I am vigiling over someone in a coma. This is not unlike the theme in Gandhi's Bible, "The Kingdom of God is Within You," by Leo Tolstoy.

It is unlikely that someone will awake from a coma, but miracles happen. I believe in Miracles. A Miracle is what it will take to Rescue and Restore Darfur.

Day #12 May 25: Are there no Rescuers?

Holocaust Museum, White House

As I worked to prepare for a meeting with the executive of a leading organization in the effort against Darfur Genocide, distilling my thoughts was a priority.What distilled was a simple definition of the problem - what's killing Darfur: FEW IF ANY RESCUERS.

"Rescuers" is a term used by Eva Fogelman, "Conscience and Courage," to describe the select few individuals that saved Jews during the Holocaust - an estimated 10,000 of the overall population in Germany, for example, stepped up to be Rescuers. How many in the US stepped up? It seems to me we have made not progress since the Holocaust toward the all important objective of raising Rescuers. This must be a profound sadness for folks such as the US Holocaust Museum.

I shared this analysis with the executive - that More Rescuers is what would have reduced or eliminated the Holocaust; that no Rescuers is the reason for Darfur genocide uninterrupted. At first I think he was hurt. I think he would have liked to have been included in my calculations as one. I stated my guess that Eric Reeves - Smith professor dying of leukemia but working heroically to write about Darfur - was the only one I saw.

By the end of our brief conversation I think he saw some use and hope in seeing that the metric of - how many rescuers? - is a useful way to look at Darfur, or any genocide.

Rescuers is what can help. Rescuers is what we must be. Rescuers is what we must create / cause. Rescuers is what we lack. Rescuers Rescue for Love, because they can't NOT rescue; not for money. Their efforts are heroic, radically self-sacrificing acts; not because it is their Job.Where are the Rescuers for Darfur? What is wrong with us? If we were a country of Christians, wouldn't there be as many Rescuers as there are of us? Wasn't Jesus a Rescuer? Wouldn't His followers be?

My thanks to the wonderful folks that stopped by and expressed compassion for Darfur. Let's restore Darfur.

Day #11 May 24: Very Discouraging, NO RESCUERS

Holocaust Museum

I go thru cycles like this as I probe, gain information, rethink, re-understand…. But today is a down day.

Why? Hmmm. Partly, a bit of unfounded euporia as my vision clarified on the nature of our problem. Partly, in testing that new clarity with some folks I had hope for here in DC… THUD. Is the clarity incorrect? No. What I learn is that even the most alive of us is all but dead.

There are no Rescuers. There may be none that can even find the strength or humanity to entertain the idea.

Great thanks to the folks who can at least bear contemplating Darfur for the moment:

Day #10 May 23: Clarity and Progress

Soon I'll share the clarity that came today regarding the message I am to communicate, given the chance, to organizations and leaders here in the city. It is fairly exciting and hopeful. Will it be really helpful? Will it change things? It could.

And, to his credit, a senior individual in a prominent anti-Genocide group here in town has agreed to meet with me to discuss. Upon learning of his intention to meet I sent him detail. Hopefully we still will meet. We should.

WE ARE SO CLOSE TO SAVING DARFUR. WE ARE SO FAR FROM SAVING DARFUR.

A small part of the clarity that I've now fleshed out so that others might see what haunts me is the following that I believe to be truth: NORMALITY IN THE FACE OF GENOCIDE IS FATAL.
In fact, I think this is the central finding of Samatha Power's detailed study of genocide in the last 100 years.

Let's pray, that I am wrong, and Restoration for Darfur is already at hand, OR, let us pray that someone helps get us on track to do so. 2,000,000 lives are out of time. Even after the forcefully negotiated "peace agreement" 2 weeks ago, Sudan is already backpeddling. THIS IS A VERY OMINOUS SIGN. WE SHOULD ASSUME THAT THIS MEANS THEY HAVE DECIDED TO EXTERMINATE THE REMAINING 2,000,000. That is what Genocidal regeimes do when they realize that they are running out of time.

Many wonderful folks concerned about Darfur in President's park from all over - Canada, Columbia, Oregon, NY, Ohio, France.... Most seem passionate about doing their part to Rescue and Restore their Darfur family to thier land and life:

AU: Troops needed in 2 months not September

The African Union on Tuesday suggested that United Nations peacekeeping troops should be sent to Sudan's Darfur region within two months to bolster a peace accord and prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening.

AU commission chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare, flanked by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, told a press conference in London that the accord sealed in Abuja, Nigeria "will be credible if we can ensure the commitment becomes a reality."

So we must lose no more time because if there is any doubt, everything then can be questioned," Konare said."

And we mustn't forget the humanitarian aspects. In two months it will be the rainy season. If confidence doesn't reign again then ... the situation could really worsen," the French-speaking Konare said through an interpreter.

He added that he hoped a UN mission could be on the ground "as soon as possible",

A Guardian Angel

The kindnesses from Thomas and his family are endless. What a friend to our cause.



Blessed are the poor. Blessed are the Peacemakers.

Day #9 May 22: NYT - Darfur's Fleeting Moment

Op-Ed Contributor

Darfur's Fleeting Moment
By ANTHONY LAKE and FRANCIS FUKUYAMA
Washington

FOR three years, despite the official rhetoric and the growing public support for bold international action to end the first genocide of the 21st century, Darfur has largely remained a neglected tragedy.

Until now. With the signing of a peace agreement in Nigeria on May 5, Darfur, in western Sudan, faces a new and more hopeful prospect. Although two of the main rebel groups did not sign the accord, the Sudanese government and the largest insurgent faction did. President Bush's support of the peace process deserves applause, as does Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick's leadership at the negotiating table.

But as recent fighting between the rebel factions makes painfully clear, this significant achievement is in reality a window of opportunity that could close soon, leaving Darfur still more gravely afflicted. If the piece of paper signed in Nigeria does not quickly produce tangible progress toward peace, including protection for Darfur's people from both the government-backed janjaweed militia and the rebels, more than diplomatic momentum will be lost. Deepened anger and despair could defeat future efforts at peace and provide fertile ground for the seeds of military conflict and even terrorism, as demonstrated by Al Qaeda's recent threat to take jihad to Sudan.

Last Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the peace agreement and created a team to prepare for a peacekeeping mission that will take over from the African Union force in Darfur.

To seize the moment, the Bush administration should go beyond calling for urgency at the United Nations in planning a peacekeeping force. It should also give the government of Sudan a brief time in which to accept such a force. Sudan has said it would do so once there was a peace agreement, but has waffled in recent statements. It must be held to its words.

Mr. Bush should also now get ready the logistics, intelligence and headquarters assistance that the United States could provide to such a force. Showing we are prepared to act quickly should help persuade the United Nations to move smartly itself.

President Bush could join President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, who was instrumental in pushing through the peace agreement, in personally soliciting pledges of troops for a United Nations force. While NATO itself will not be accepted by the Sudanese government, why not include alliance members in a United Nations operation?

And Washington should make it clear that if Sudan refuses to accept a United Nations force, we will press NATO to act even without the consent of the Sudanese government — including a no-flight zone to ground the Sudanese aircraft that have provided support to the murderous janjaweed. And we would bring further sanctions to bear.

While recent sanctions by the United States and the United Nations against four Sudanese men involved in the genocide are a step in the right direction, far more expansive measures should be taken against the high-level propagators of genocide based in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, if they block a United Nations force. Beyond multilateral sanctions, the United States could work with countries where Sudanese officials have assets or hope to travel to impose penalties on them.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis grows more desperate. As the needs grow, money to meet them has dwindled. The World Food Program is halving daily rations to Darfurian refugees to a dangerous 1,050 calories a day. Unicef is being forced to scale back its operations, including its nutritional programs for children. The president has asked Congress to increase food aid to Sudan by $225 million. That request must be put on a fast track.

And the many Americans who have voiced their outrage at the dithering of the international community should and can act as well as speak — by contributing to humanitarian organizations like Unicef, the International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders.

At the United Nations World Summit meeting last September, the United States and other participating governments agreed that the international community has a responsibility to protect innocent civilians when a government is unwilling or unable to do so. In a letter organized by the Stanford chapter of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur and personally delivered to one of the president's aides last month, we, along with 16 of our colleagues, called on President Bush and Secretary Rice to lead the international community in honoring this pledge.
A failure of international will has allowed Darfur to bleed into another year of rape, slaughter and starvation. Only strong leadership and urgent, resolute action can save lives before this moment of hope is lost.

Anthony Lake, a professor at Georgetown, was a national security adviser to President Bill Clinton. Francis Fukuyama, a professor of international political economy at Johns Hopkins, is the author of "America at the Crossroads."

Thanks to the wonderful folks that care about Darfur:

Day #8 May 21: "We hold the Power"

9:15pm White House - Round the Clock Vigil

"We - even we here - hold the power, and bear the responsibility." Abraham Lincoln (from Samantha Power, "Problem from Hell.")

The day has been spent here talking about the urgent need to scream support to our elected officials for immediately putting 20,000 UN peace keepers on the ground. Spoke with some great folks, and shared with them the need for urgency and action. Photos below.

And time was spent, reading, and rereading portions of "The Problem from Hell," about the US non-response to Genocides in the last 100 years. I offer the following quotes as a Bottom Line of Power's findings as to why WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED A GENOCIDE. It is NOT that we didn't know, couldn't afford, were opposed internationally....

THE REASONS WE DIDN'T ACT / THE REASONS WE WILL PROBABLY NOT ACT THIS TIME:

* "It is in the realm of domestic politics that the battle to stop genocide is lost. American political leaders interpret society-wide silence as an indicator of public indifference."

* "They reason that they will incur no costs if the United States remains uninvolved but will face steep risks if they engage."

* "The battle to stop genocide has thus been repeatedly lost in the realm of domestic politics... Americans outside the executive branch were largely mute when it mattered. As a result of this society-wide silence, officials at all levels of government calculated that the political costs of getting involved in stopping genocide far exceeded the costs of remaining uninvolved."

* "It takes political pressure to put genocide on the map in Washington."

* "...Individuals ... would have to make a difference, which is not the same as believing that they would [succeed]."

I pray on behalf of our Darfur family that "We - even we here..." TAKE the power, and TAKE the RESPONSIBILITY, NOW.

Day #7 May 20th: Powers - UNREASONABLE INDIVIDUALS

Round The Clock Stand With Darfur - White House ; 9:30pm White House. Spent the day in front of the Holocaust Museum.

Note CLICK HERE for CURRENT BLOGS for July - September 2006!!!

Well sure, I am AWARE, that what I am doing is not normal, not simply REASONABLE. But NOR WAS ANYONE, ANYONE!!!! that Samantha Power seems to find was significantly helpful in prior Genocides. Just finished her book. Anyone that wants to have a prayer of Saving Darfur, and Restoring Darfur MUST read this book. It is a Godsend. ("A Problem From Hell," about the Genocides of the last 100 years and why they never have been stopped.)

So, Page 536, the last page of this extraordinary work on Genocide (last 100 years), how does she end? "They (her heroes) knew that it was individuals who would have to make a difference, which was not the same as believing that they would. They were usually branded "emotional," "irrational," "soft," or "naive." Many of them saw their careers destroyed by the stands they took. Some crumbled... How can it be that those who fight on behalf of these principles are the ones deemed unreasonable?"

She concludes, "George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." AFTER A CENTURY OF DOING SO LITTLE TO PREVENT, SUPPRESS, AND PUNISH GENOCIDE, AMERICANS MUST JOIN AND THEREBY LEGITIMATE THE RANKS OF THE UNREASONABLE."

Note CLICK HERE for CURRENT BLOGS for July - September 2006!!!

Spoke with some hopefully unreasonable folks today:

Day #6 May 19: Misc.

1pm: At Save Darfur offices recharging. Thanks. Some good conversations at the White House! Ok, out in the park in FRONT of the White House :-) .

Continuing to pour thru "Problem from Hell," Powers. Oh my God. We have so much more to do; we've barely begun. Stage 1 rocket fired April 30. If we don't build and fire Stage 2 and Stage 3, then what was luanched Arpil 3o, along with the future of 2,000,000 Darfuries, will crash, and burn, VERY SOON. NO ONE SHOULD CONSIDER THEMSELVES COMMITTED TO DARFUR / OR HOPEFUL FOR DARFUR RESTORATION THAT HAS NOT READ THIS BOOK. With it, we can honestly look at WHAT LEVEL OF ACTION THAT WE MUST PRODUCE; and THAT HAS NEVER BEEN PRODUCED BEFORE IN THIS COUNTRY!!!!! Without mastery of this book, we should count the 2,000,000 as already dead, as good as dead. Without it, WE WILL UNDER PRODUCE / UNDER PERFORM - AS WE THE PEOPLE HAVE EVERY OTHER TIME. This God Given book can let us take stock, and see the superior level of commitment that can/will Rescue and Restore Darfur... before it is too late.

Folks from so many places: Canada - "Why are you the only one out here? Doesn't anyone have any balls around here? Let's talk when I get back - let's figure how I can join in." (thanks for the donation); Korea; Teachers/students from Kentucky; Warrior - Indiginous Street sage (thanks for the $1!); Ladies from South America; Students from Pittsburgh; Med Students from Georgetown; Folks from San Francisco; St. Louis/Baltimore; Oregon/Virginia.... SORRY! Camera problems lost about 3 of you. So sorry. COME BACK! Thanks to you all for the contributions to this Stand. Let's Stand With Darfur - until they are restored.

The next piece of substance on this site is likely to be concerned with Courage and / or the concept Kristoff discussed lately - Citizens Army. Some folks want to know about Needs of this Stand With Darfur. Likely something on that as well.