y the jew thing in this situation kinda uncalled for its the world at larges fault
this jew has it right
world needs to force china to quit trading guns for oil
-----------------------------------------------------
Darfur & the Olympics: A Jewish Lament
Today's guest blogger is Rabbi Or N. Rose. Rabbi Rose is associate dean of the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College and co-editor of Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice (Jewish Lights Publishing).
"For these things do I weep, my eyes flow with tears..."
-Lamentations 1:16
This is the saddest time of the Jewish year. On the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av (this year falling on August 9-10), Jews throughout the world mourn the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem and several other national calamities. Traditional rituals for this day of communal mourning include fasting and reading the book of Lamentations.
This year, as I prepare for Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), reflecting on the themes of violence and exile, my attention turns to the tragic intersection of two contemporary world events: the ongoing genocide in Darfur and the opening of the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing.
As has been widely reported in the media, the Sudanese government and its proxy militia, the Janjaweed ("evil men on horseback" in Arabic), have carried out a brutal scorched-earth campaign against their opponents in the western province of Darfur. This genocidal rampage has involved the burning of homes and crops, the destruction of wells and granaries, and the rape, torture, and murder of countless civilians. The violence in Darfur has led to the displacement of approximately two and a half million people and the death of hundreds of thousands of others.
But what does this have to do with the Olympics? Despite the atrocities committed by the Sudanese government over the past five years, China continues to serve as Khartoum's most significant political, military, and economic ally. China has repeatedly used its veto power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to prevent the passage of strong measures against the Sudanese government. While China did support a 2007 Security Council resolution calling for the deployment of a hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping force to Darfur, Beijing weakened that resolution before it was passed. China also doubled its trade with Sudan in 2007 and, in violation of a UN arms embargo, continues to supply Khartoum with weapons used to perpetrate atrocities against innocent Darfurians.
Beijing now welcomes with great fanfare athletes from around the globe for an international sporting competition based on the principles of good will and fair play. This, while actively supporting a genocide. As actress and activist Mia Farrow remarked, "China hopes that these games will be its post-Tiananmen Square coming out party. But how can Beijing host the Olympic Games at home and underwrite genocide in Darfur?" Ironically, the theme for the Summer Games is "One World, One Dream." Does this dream include the nightmares of the people of western Sudan?
China is, of course, not the only international power implicated in the genocide. Though Beijing's actions are particularly despicable, other world leaders have failed the Darfurians. As an American citizen, I am deeply disappointed with President Bush and his administration. While the President was one of the first heads of state to name the crisis in Darfur a genocide and, with Congress, has supported substantial funding for relief aid, he has not demonstrated the kind of consistent personal engagement necessary to help end the bloodshed in western Sudan. I pray that President Bush's trip to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Games will stir him to take up the plight of the Darfurian people more vigorously in his final months in office.
Corporate sponsors of the Beijing Games must also be held accountable for their unwillingness to use their significant leverage to motivate China to change its behavior. The sponsors would prefer to remain above the political fray, but as major stakeholders in the Olympics they have an obligation to do the right thing, especially since these companies are spending billions of dollars bolstering China's image as a gracious and welcoming Olympic host.
While there is much to lament about the situation in Darfur and the behavior of China and other global political and economic powers, we cannot despair. We must join the growing international anti-genocide movement, lending our efforts to bring justice and peace to Sudan.
Just this week, the United States Olympic team courageously voted to have Lopez Lomong, a track star and former refugee from southern Sudan, carry the American flag during the opening ceremony. Commenting on this honor Lomong said, "... Terrible things are going on in Darfur; people are running... and I put myself in their shoes." Our Olympic team is doing what it can for Darfur, now we must do our part.
Throughout the Olympics, there will be several opportunities for us to take action. One particularly creative campaign is called Switch Over to Darfur. The organizers of this initiative are calling on Olympic viewers to turn off their TV's during commercials (by the offending sponsors) and "switch over" to daily reports by Mia Farrow from a Darfurian refugee camp. In addition to interviewing genocide survivors, Farrow will also provide recommendations for further action steps.
While Tisha B'av is considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, the ancient rabbis also say that this is the day on which the Messiah will be born. The way that I interpret this paradoxical statement is that even in our darkest hour redemption is possible. Even when all seems lost and there is no hope, there is a "way out of no way."
The hour is indeed dark for the women, children, and men of Darfur, but it need not always be so. If people of conscience are willing to dedicate themselves to ending the genocide in western Sudan, it can happen.
"Take us back O Lord, to Yourself, and let us come back; renew our days as of old."
-Lamentations 5:21
The content of this blog reflects the views of its author and does not necessarily reflect the views of either Eboo Patel or the Interfaith Youth Core.
