No Fly Zone in Darfur?

The first thing I want to say, Katrina, is “thanks for taking the time to write.” Your piece was thoughtful and passionate, and deserves the same kind of response from me. So here goes:

You're right. There is a lot I didn't say. I hope I may be forgiven, though, especially in light of trying to post at least one blog per week on Zaadz. So far, I've posted 143 pieces, which would equal a 300-page book if they were all downloaded. I've posted on a large number of topics, all with a common purpose: To convince people that they should support my independent candidacy for US president in 2008.

They're Americans

You wrote, “They're American: many don't identify with Africans except in the same way everybody else does - as humans.” I have to disagree with “they're Americans.” I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that most American Blacks don't think of themselves as “Americans.” To put a finer point on it, they might think of themselves as “Black Americans” or as second-class citizens who are trying to pull themselves up the economic ladder. Or they might identify with a variety of subgroups: For instance, many identify with being Muslim or even Black Muslim, or as members of their fundamentalist Baptist church, or (for the young) they might identify with being part of a rap culture.

Blacks living in America have found greater degrees of acceptance and more opportunities for advancement than in our more sordid past. But…and this is something they never forget, not for one moment…they - are - different. They are the “other.” They did not come to this continent to be able to own property; they came here as property.

I believe everybody should more fully appreciate their origins, their roots (to use an overworked word). It is impossible for anyone (or group) to move forward psychologically unless they've looked back by peering into their past. You are right when you say “many don't identify with Africans,” but what I'm saying is: They should. It is only to the advantage of the oppressor that he tells the oppressed that it's best to “forget all that and move on.” To be sure, the oppressor doesn't change his attitude about the oppressed due to the mere passage of time. He might no longer gaze upon the Black as a “jungle bunny from a Tarzan movie.” But neither does he look upon the Black as truly equal to himself.

The Need for Black America's Support

I did a quick search on google and found my suspicions to be correct: The support among American blacks for their brothers and sisters in Darfur is paltry. See the article titled “”Blacks MIA at Darfur Rally” - printed in Washington Informer, posted May 8, 2006. Here's the link:

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=5e49e981e6cff5b76d36c11ec2473147

One is not fully human or fully conscious as a human being unless he feels sympathy for those who are most like him; for those from his “homeland.” Of course, we may move past that to become citizens of the world who embrace everybody equally. But unless we first come to know and embrace our own, we cannot be in a position to embrace everybody by reason of our shared humanity alone.

About Muslims

You wrote, “if it's only practical to help people in our “category,” we run the risk of remaining separated factions.” It's not being “practical” that crossed my mind; it's more a matter of being a necessary first step. One of the most basic tenets of the Quran is for Muslims (as a duty to God) to build the ideal community on earth. That implies a degree of unity which is not present in the Islamic world at present. And Muslims are painfully aware of this disunity within their own ranks.

So for me to ask “Muslims to unite right now in the current state,” isn't really audacious. It's just a gentle reminder of something they're already well aware of. Also, there are gentle and diplomatic ways to remind others of their duty. I get called on by non-Buddhists for my misbehaviors and sins of omission. But because my non-Buddhist friends are kind and compassionate in their words (and not “in my face”), I can more easily accept their critiques.

Also, Muslims would consider the source. Someone like me asking for their help, would score better than someone with perhaps a hidden agenda asking them (someone, for instance, like George Bush). You might be interested in my blog in which I propose, as President, to visit Iran and offer an Islamic prayer to a gathered crowd. The prayer is “Allahu akbar!” [God is great/greater/greatest], which even I as a Buddhist could offer. See http://bpa-cinc.zaadz.com/blog/2006/10/u_s_president_visits_iran

Possible Dangers, and Obligations of Past Sinners

I didn't address this in my blog, but there might be a real danger in a US-sponsored No Fly Zone. I mean, once we have a military presence in a country, it could be too easy to just decide to impose our own agenda. The temptation might be too great to create behind-the-scenes pressure on the Khartoum government simply because Sudan has oil.

I am curious as to why the European powers aren't stepping up to the plate, since they are primarily responsible (as former colonizers) for the mess in Africa. In Rwanda, it was the Belgians; in the Sudan, the British. Yet, I didn't see Belgium taking even token action to prevent the Rwandan genocide. And I don't hear anything from the Brits about they country taking initiative on its own to create a No Fly Zone.

Then there's the matter of Egypt stepping up to the plate. Karmically speaking, they owe the Sudanese a great deal due to having exploited them as a colony in the 1800s. And the fact that Egypt is Islamic makes me wonder out loud: “Why is it they can't put their money where their faith is?” And…it's not even their money! Since 1975, the US has been giving Egypt about $3 billion a year in mostly military assistance. So, some might argue, perhaps Egypt should use this out of gratitude to the US - and also by reason of being a good neighbor (Egypt, of course, is directly north of Sudan), good Muslims, and good humanitarians.

There are some sins that have to be atoned for directly by the sinners themselves. And if they don't, well then Africans will have to ask themselves someday why they themselves didn't do more. Only after such soul-searching, regret, and mourning, can real growth and consciousness occur in a people. Unfortunately (and this will seem cold to say), in order to have regrets later, there have to be massive deaths now. Yes, they are preventable deaths, but preventing those deaths would in fact cause death of another kind to occur: The death that occurs from an entire continent not being allowed to evolve due to our well-intentioned yet paternalistic intervention.

I hope this answers some of your concerns.

Sincerely,

Steve Searle