January 18th, 2009
Message from Alma of the Ottawa Grannies
I thought I would share this email message with you. I think it brings up a point that I had been pondering myself.
Granny Donna
The following message is from Alma of the Ottawa Grannies:
Dear Grans,
I’m impressed as well as shocked by the number and intensity of the protests over the situation in Gaza. The widespread anger is understandable ,as are demands for a Ceasefire, which unfortunately seem blocked by the US in the Security Council .
These protests illustrate the power of public opinion, which realistically should not be ignored though it’s hard ro see what can be done if the protagonists and their backers refuse to act.
That being said, my question is: why have there nor been similar protests over the slaughter in Darfur, the use of rape as a weapon of war, the deplorable and indeed hopeless situation of the 10′s of thousands killed, injured and displaced by the violent conflicts in Africa.
Are the lives of Palestinians somehow more valuable than the lives of Africans? Is the brutality of Israeli airstrikes more reprehensible than the the more primitive means of slaughter in the Congo? We’ve seen images of both conflicts; we know what has been happening and is still happening in Africa. Yet somehow this tragedy has not fired public opinion . The Gaza protests may – hopefully – force some sort of action to stop the Insanity. I sadly fear, though, the massacre of Africans by Africans will continue with little more than pleas by the few who work among them, and general indifference by the rest of the world community.
Am I very far off base if i suggest that part of the explanation lies in widespread and deeply entrenched racism?
Could the Grannies not devote some of our considerable energy and talent to urging everyone to rise up and speak out for ALL victims of war, including specifically those in Africa.
