Guest post on Sudan

(One of my friends has a daughter over in Sudan. She wrote this to a number of us yesterday. I am posting it with her permission.)

Dear all-
Last night, I heard Madeleine Albright speak at the Illinois Holocaust Museum Humanitarian Awards Dinner in Chicago. While you may not all agree with her politics, one would be hard pressed to disagree with much of what she had to say. While supporting the work of creating an Illinois museum and educational center to remember the Holocaust, she points out that genocide history is even now being repeated in the Darfur region of the Sudan. She referenced this in her speech, my limited notes here:

When people ask how old I am, I explain that I was born somewhere between the invention of the Blackberry communications device and the discovery of fire. Am I an optimist or a pessimist? I am an optimist who worries a lot and nothing worries me more than the capacity for violence and terrorism in today’s world.

Fanatics have turned religion into a weapon. Bigotry is taught and the educational tool is increasingly the internet. Speech has power and words do not fade. What starts as a sound ends in a deed.

There is a powerful urge to fall under the spell of the Big Lie. People believe what they are taught. Many would prefer that we do not have dialogue with countries that support and export terrorism. To the contrary, we need to talk with Iran and others. We need dialogue with those who do not see as we do. We need to stand firm that Israel has the right to exist. The logic of peace is compelling.

Even if there is no immediate solution, we must talk. I also believe that three things are important. 1- We must contain the danger to our troops. 2- We need to encourage political settlement with an equitable sharing and balance of power in the Middle East. 3- We must prevail on Iraq and its neighbors for stability in the region.

With education, we have the power of memory, reason, prayer, hope and the ability to choose. We must stop genocide in the world: the Holocaust taught us lessons, but it is still happening in places like Darfur.

Distinctions define us. Humanity binds us!

This subject is particularly close to home because our daughter is there in Africa now. She is working with a team that is documenting humanitarian aid, Unicef and Save the Children Foundation, among others. They want to investigate and spread the word. Her email to me today states in part:

"My life is the most amazing set of experiences. Today we did interviews with UNICEF at their local headquarters, IMC and Samaritan's Purse.. so interesting running around in the hot chaos of Khartoum, wheeling and dealing to get permissions and paperwork. Met BBC and Financial Times reporters that can't believe that we have permission; everyone is astounded that we even got visas. What an interesting time! But I am safe; may be going to Darfur as soon as tomorrow. Don't worry if you don't hear from me... very organized, very safe, protection official.

Yes, we are concerned, but we are proud, too. We do ask your prayers, not only for her, but all who try to help those in need.

For some interesting info and links, I checked out the Holocaust Museum's website which has info on Darfur and also the refugees in Chad. It is here.
Then, there are further links with photos and interviews.

So, to bring this full circle, history is repeating itself, but it needn't always be like that. We need to change that!

All the best to you!

My previous related Sudan posts:
Those Candidate Generals
Questions for Hillary
W, True Democrat
It Worked in Darfur
Liberal is NOT a Dirty Word?
Danse Macabre
Axis of Evil Plus
The UN Kills
Tears of Darfur
Schakowsky Too Little Too Late
Multiculti Surrender to Sharia
Terror Ties in Chicago