When considering the recent visit of Mahmud Ahmadinejad to the United Nations this week I looked at what was released by the Tehran Times on the subject. I wanted to see how they were viewing the trip and how they might be informing their people of how it was going.

This is a direct quote from that paper.

“It has been our honor and privilege to meet with President Ahmadinejad ... we have found the Iranian President to be a deeply religious man, dedicated to a peaceful world, based on mutual respect, fairness and dialogue,"" Rabbi Weiss wrote.”

Now I thought for a moment and searched for how Columbia University, about as liberal an institution of learning as exists in the world, felt about Iran’s President last year.



And I decided to listen to his answer on the Holocaust from 2006



And then I went to look at what he had to say about America recently



Considering all these comments from his own mouth, respectfully I wonder where does Rabbi Weiss find a dedication to world peace, mutual respect or fairness? Truly it’s a shame the Tehran Times is so controlled as to be unable to comment on what the rest of the world hears.

Labels: Columbia University, Holocaust, Iran, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Rabbi Weiss, Tehran Times, United Nations

Over a decade ago I was living in Georgia, or Gruzya [rough phonetic version of the Russian name], as the nation went through a similar difficult struggle. During my time there I came to learn of the people and their daily struggles, and appreciate their strong wills and big hearts.

I went to Gruzya back in 1991 as part of my work for an import-export company. I had been living in Moscow prior to that time. I was living in a hotel one block away from the President’s mansion, the President at the time being Zviad Gamsakhurdia. My purpose in the country was to create a casino, and to sell food, clothing, and other goods if possible. I say if possible because there was a huge unrest in the small nation – student protests of Gamsakhurdia were common and growing. So I tried to meet with both Gamsakhurdia and the rebels, to sell them each the foods and clothes the nation needed. Picking sides was not an option.

Not too long after my arrival full, complete civil war started. The rebels took down Gamsakhurdia in short order, only to have him go to the north and rally the people to “pick up swords and pitchforks and fight”, which they did.

When I left this nation it was a difficult day. I was smuggled into the last flight leaving for Moscow, in the area underneath the seats of the pilots of the plane. It’s an experience you may have seen in movies, but is nowhere near fun to actually living through.

I say all this for a couple of reasons. First is the fact that Georgians are notorious for their strong wills. Once they make a decision they are not known for changing their minds. They are known as fierce fighters, and in my opinion, they can be a bit crazy. I recall when they were firing RPG’s across the street at each other during the civil war; and on another occasion the telegraph office (which was also the main telephone bank for the capitol and largest city) was blown up to prevent the other side from making any calls – but also removing the ability of anyone to be in contact regardless of side in the conflict.

So if the Russian Army thinks this will be a quick fight they are out of their minds. Georgians will defend their homes to the last, and many are combat trained or experienced due to the not so distant civil war.

Another reason is the fact that a major pipeline for oil runs through Georgia. That means millons of dollars that can be used to improve roads, build the infrastructure of cities, and provide for the general well-being of the populace. That’s money Russia has always wanted.

If the pipeline is shutdown, crude oil prices will jump up. So far there has been no evidence, yet, or attacks on the pipeline but it’s still early in the fighting.

Russia has been relatively quietly rebuilding the old Soviet Union. Posturing has occurred with airspace infractions versus other nations (especially those in NATO), and constant arguments with the U.S. over military strenght have happened with increasing frequency in the past few years. Several of the former Soviet nations have commented on the aggressive stance that Russia has taken recently.

But lastly I want to note something else.

It is estimated that some 2,000 people have died in the past 3 days. Almost all of them are civillians and the numbers are growing. Coverage of the conflict has been non-stop on every major news media in the U.S. President Bush, Senator John McCain, and Senator Barack Obama have all made comments and asked for an end to the violence. The United Nations is getting involved, and Europe is cautious of every news report.

But over the last 4 year more than 250,000 men, women, and children have been murdered in a genocide. This is occuring right now in Darfur, Sudan. The major U.S. media as effectively blackedout the news. President Bush, Senator McCain, and Senator Obama have all had nothing to say about the attrocity. Europe hasn’t shrugged on the events. The United Nations has sent a paltry number of troops that have done nothing to quell the violence.

In fact China is a major source of funds for the Sudanese government, thus funding the genocide. Not to be outdone, America is also doing business with Sudan and also helping with the murder of innocents.

In fact the U.S. Congress has had legislation sitting for years that would prevent at least the Government, if not private business, from doing business with (and thus funding) the Sudan. HR 180 IH has been languishing, and every American politician seems not to care.

I enjoyed my time in Georgia. I got to know a few very good people. I lived there and lived the culture that can only happen when you are part of a culture – not just visiting. I was welcomed into homes as a guest from God – which is the translation of the word guest in their language. I lost a couple of dear friends in the civil war, I fear I may lose more in the current fighting.

Yet, I note the absurdly different manner in which the people of Georgia are being treated by the news media as opposed to Darfur. Darfur has lost roughly 1/16 the population of the entire nation of Georgia in 4 years and counting, and it does not get 1/2 nor 1/100th the attention that has been given in just 3 days.

How can we as Americans profess a desire to help those in need, and make demands of foreign governments when we at the same time ignore and willfully allow another foreign government to commit wholesale murder?

I have live in Georgia, and I do not wish the people any harm. I respect them and their culture. I want them to live in peace. But I want no less for a nation and a people that have suffered far longer and far more. Africa may not be located in the same area as Georgia and Russia, but a child is a child. No child should suffer a cruel death because of war, starvation, or the beliefs of a few.

Should we stand up and oppose the conflict in Georgia today? Yes. And we should equally, if not more strongly, stand up and say the same or similar things to Sudan.

Labels: Darfur, European Union, Georgia, HR 180 IH, Russia, United Nations, Zviad Gamsakhurdia

Back in the far reaches of time there was a prisoner that no one knew. Well at least in America. Back in 1962 a Black man was thrown in a jail (with the help of the CIA) because he wanted freedom. He wanted a say in his government, he wanted to be equal to those around him. He wanted an end to the poverty that was focused on ever other Black in the nation. He was a visionary, and that vision was enough to have him locked up for 27 years.

Back in the 1980’s people like Rev. Wright realized that this man existed in a tiny jail cell. They realized that what he wanted was an inalienable right. They realized that no nation should ever rule over its people in such a manner.

That nation was South Africa, the rule of law was Apartheid, and the man is Nelson Mandela.

Throughout the 1980’s and afterwards America woke up to the fact that a modern day slavery existed in the world. It was something the nation stood up and rejected, though not without resistance in some parts. But eventually the nation refused to do business with South Africa, hitting them in their pockets hard. We protested and held rallies. We politically turned up the heat internationally. And in 1990, Nelson Mandela saw the light of day as a free man. In 1994 he became the leader of his nation and abolished all vestiges of Apartheid. He led his nation to democratic rule, and improve the lives of millions of Africans in the process.

Today that man is 90 years old. An age many never envisioned him reaching in 1980. And his message today, though retired from elected office and generally from public life, is as strong as at any point prior. He seeks peace in Zimbabwe, as well as social and economic reform. He has fought to gain international attention to AIDS in Africa, and is a Nobel Prize winner. His words resonate as strongly in the world as almost and current national leader.

And I have to wonder. America woke up to Africa in 1980. For a brief moment the nation paid attention to a land filled with Black people, and the injustice being wrought by the Whites in power their. And then we walked away.

Today there is a genocide raging in Africa, and America does nothing. We don’t even discuss the atrocity on the nightly news. There are nations in unrest, and the majority of Americans can’t name 3 countries in the continent. [Most just refer to Africa as if it were one nation instead of multiple nations on a single continent. That’s not just rude, it’s stupid.] There are those starving, and those striving to survive, and America imagines the continent to be a big jungle filled with savages – even in the 21st Century.

“It is Not On Our Watch that again did something our nation seems incapable, or unwilling, to do. Today they gave $500,000 to the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations. The WFP has been providing food and support people in Darfur for years, in fact 70% of it’s aid goes to this area alone.”

Has America acted to help all the African nations? A bit. There is of course Somolia, and various donations of food and money given by individuals and a touch by the government. But that’s all the political polispeak of it. We aren’t involved in Africa. We don’t care what happens there. Because if we did all the African nations would be different today.

“America has become a policeman of the world in my lifetime. We have entered multiple nations as a peacekeeping force and in wars. Yet, for some reason America has turned its back while the equivalent of Orlando, Florida (or possibly Cleveland, Ohio – the exact number is unknown) have been killed since 2003. Let me make this clear, that’s between 200,000 to 400,000 men women and children that have been killed and counting.”

China is the leading investor in the African continent. America openly does business with, and therefore funds, the Sudan – funding the murder of children and women every day. I have spoken about HR 180 IH, and the presidential candidates won’t. Congress fails to act and the news media ignores it.

“When I think of Darfur I am reminded of a quote,

“Man's inhumanity to man is not only perpetrated by the vitriolic actions of those who are bad. It is also perpetrated by the vitiating inaction of those who are good.” – Dr. Martin Luther King.

Back in June I noted that there had not been a single candidate that had spoken about the atrocity in Darfur. Today that genocide in Darfur continues, Congress has not acted, and the Presidential candidates continue to turn a blind eye…”

But how much money has America poured into Serbia? How many laws were enacted to resolve that conflict? How many soldiers did we send to help end that genocide, which was discussed at least weekly on the news? And yet we can’t even pass one law to limit the money going to the Sudan from our government to say nothing of businesses.

Nelson Mandela is a great man. He has lead a life worthy of notice and remembrance. At 90 he continues to call out to the world to do the right thing. And America has gone back to the deaf ear it had the day the jail cell doors closed on Mr. Mandela.

We can do better, we can be better. And all the polispeak from both political parties is not enough to hide the fact that America treats all the African nations like they were in a Tarzan movie.

You can write to Congress to request action in preserving the lives of thousands of women and children via your local Senator or Congressman:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Or

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Labels: AIDS, Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, Don Cheadle, HR 180 IH, Nelson Mandela, Polispeak, South Africa, United Nations

Finally we see the start of some action. Finally leadership has arisen and taken a stand. Sadly it was not the United States that has been the bold leader that our nation can be, and often is. Even so, I am happy to spread this news.

The United Nations has announced that it will be sending 26,000 peacekeeping troops to stop, or at least stem, the mass murder in Darfur that has claimed some 400,000 lives and left 2,500,000 homeless. I have been speaking about Darfur for a little while now, inspired by the words and actions of Mr. Don Cheadle.

Still the resolution has its flaws. Since the troops will be comprised of African Union and U.N. troops it will take months to organize and implement. Additionally there is no sanction component that can cause a dampening effect on the ruling government, slowing its efforts to commit genocide. This sanctioning is a needed component as is food aid for the area. It is an abysmal fact that the major industrialized nations of the world, including America, have sat on their collective asses in this matter.

As I mentioned previously HR 180 IH, has sat in Congress without action all year. In 2005 the members of the G8 summit sought to address the issue, and after few words that hold as much impact as the soundbites politicians use for most every situation these days, did nothing. So I have mixed emotions right now.

There is the start of actions to improve the lives of millions of Africans, a start but that is all. American businesses continue to support and by their inaction fund a genocide that has been on-going since 2003. Politicians have failed to act on resolutions presented to them. The news media has virtually ignored the situation. This is insulting.

I place myself along with the major media, up until recently. We can all do better and more. The stories on the vapid and imbecilic Paris Hilton can wait a bit. The comments on the rantings of Ms. Rosie O’Donnell will still be there later. BET will still provide the second-rate, debateably exploitative programming which can be protested against while they ignore their obligation to provide news and substance to the very target group the cable news channel is named for.

Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS et al. need to forget that this is happening in Africa and treat this matter like it was in Europe. I strongly feel that were this happening on a separate continent, with people of a different color, more would be done. Well it is happening and they are human beings and we can do more.

And politicians can take the simple amount of time it takes to act on HR 180 IH, Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007, forcing companies to admit if they are supporting the regime that is murdering women and children for no reason beyond the fact they exist. I dare even one politician to provide a reason that is logical that explains why this has not passed yet. To explain why this simple act has yet to be passed after 7 months seems inplausible to me. That only 151 Representaives have backed this is sad. How many lives will it take to move forward and act?

America is a great nation, I believe that without hesitation. We have helped and defended millions across the globe for decades. We stand for freedoms and rights that no other nation can claim to give so completely. Because of these reasons we cannot fail to act when the need is so dire.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Labels: Congress, Darfur, Don Cheadle, HR 180 IH, United Nations