The fact that millions of people have been moved to buy tickets and witness “The Passion of the Christ” is especially poignant in the shadow of an immediate tragedy facing our collective human soul: The Passion of the Present, now, in Sudan. Imagine a militia that forces parents to choose whether their children shall be burned alive or shot to death. Imagine that in the very same month the world remembers the genocides of Cambodia and Rwanda, the unfolding news of another in Sudan is barely heard and largely ignored.
Perpetrators of genocide do not want anyone watching. But individuals working in organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, GOAL, and Doctors without Borders are watching, and witnessing, and courageously standing up to care for victims of human rights violations. These individuals represent, for our collective soul, a personal capacity to bear witness to the passion of the present – one candle lit against the darkness. But to light a candle, someone has to strike a match.
These are times when faith seems to be more lost than found, and belief in making a difference is hard to hold onto, especially amidst the warring winds of words blowing through cyberspace. But imagine if millions of people were moved by the Passion of the Present. A donation of the cost of going to a movie to any of the human rights organizations across the world would transform our global landscape. Imagine the candlepower of truth overcoming the firepower of genocide. This world has long endured holy wars that take lives. Imagine one that saves them.
Mercy Corps is now working on the ground in Sudan to deliver emergency relief supplies, and is accepting donations to help support this effort at http://www.mercycorps.org.
Posted by: Tanya Zumach | July 08, 2004 at 12:55 PM
It is now time to arm ourselves in order to save the weakest amongst us from being eliminated by savages. We as black in the United States and all over the world need to come to the aid of our fellow suffering blacks in Sudan. We need to take the lead since the UN is ignoring the the plight of the Sudan. Let us arm ourselves with with whatever we can lay our hands on, in saving the lives of innocent men, women and child from the brutal government and its militia in the Sudan.
I am a victim of war and I know what is like to be threaten by one, let alone to be sluther with your hands tied behind your back. I hope this message goes around to the four corners of the Earth. I hope that we can act before it gets too late
Emmanuel
Posted by: Emmanuel Gaye | July 12, 2004 at 08:29 PM
I killed and help plundered the innocents of Viet Nam. I was part of war machine who tried to kill many souls as possible in order to get that body count.
My redemption is now to save lives not to destroy them. The world has mighty armies sitting idly by to defend their home lands.
Millions of other souls in Darfur are at risk of dieing. Oh why can not we as a world community use these armies to defend the people of Darfur? At least we can use military logistical resources to provide emergency humanitarian relief. Military field hospitals with corresponding feeding centers under the direction of the UN can be put into Darfur in matter of weeks.
US AID states that 300000 Darfurian lives will be lost regardless what the international communty does. I do not accept this.
Oh please President Bush! Mobilize a world "coalition of the willing" to save the people of Darfur. You can do it.
Bart Tippetts
Viet Nam Veteran
Utah Campaign to Save the People of Darfur
barttip@msn.com
Posted by: Bart Tippetts | August 06, 2004 at 09:28 PM
I cannot understand in this, the 60th anniversary of the horrors of the Third Reich, how the world is once more turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the suffering of humanity and genocide inflicted by a ruling group. Dear God, are humans such animals that they can never learn? We MUST speak out in every forum available and stop the genocide forever. Can anyone look at the pictures from World War 2's concentration camps and not be brought to shame for failing to raise a voice in protest? Can we really allow this to happen again and again? Lift up your voices to our leaders in an overwhelming riot of noise. Make the world pay attention to the evil that is being done. MAke the world leaders step in to stop the atrocities being perpetrated against our fellow human beings. Thank you.
Posted by: Leslie | February 14, 2005 at 09:29 PM