Save Darfur?

[freakyfreaky]

How about save Sudanese Armenians (likely descendants of genocide survivors) who live in a country stifled by civil wars and rebellious uprisings between African and Arabic muslim factions.

Funny that our multiple alphabet soup activist organizations in DC have embraced the Save Darfur campaign but have been unable to recognize the situation of Armenians in the country or educate the public on this little peculiar sub-issue.

And, originally, was saving Darfur a creation of Armenian Americans or J-ewish Americans. Inquiring minds want to know because J-ewish American humanitarian and activist groups sure seem to claim the lead on bringing this issue to the public. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-102214597.html

[TomServo]

Re: Save Darfur?

So you don't think Darfur is worth saving?

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Save Darfur?

I think Darfur is being misrepresented as a genocide for political purposes.

But the real message is how Armenian American activists have been distracted by these Darfurian relief agencies so much so that they've missed a true genocide story within Sudan. I bet you Save Darfur does not want to address the manner in which Armenians ended up in Sudan.

How did those Armenians end up in Sudan? I suspect a good portion of them are relatives of refugees from the AG.

And, while Armenian activists are being distracted from 'Save Darfur' a concept advocated and promoted by American J-ewish religious and charitable organizations (some of which like the ADL are incongrously juxtaposed with core Hai Tahd issues), these same activists missed an opportunity for directly linking Sudan to the Armenian Genocide and undermining the purpose of Save Darfur - namely, to overload interest in Darfur and detract from AG recognition.

Then again Save Darfur can put more people on the National Mall and attract more public attention then Armenian American leaders ever could.

[TomServo]

Re: Save Darfur?

How did those Armenians end up in Sudan? I suspect a good portion of them are relatives of refugees from the AG.

The same way those Armenians ended up in Egypt and Ethiopia.

The Armenians in Sudan number around 100 now, if that. Most have left or are in the process of doing so. Who can blame them? Remember the whole teddy bear episode (that was Sudan, right)?

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Save Darfur?

First off, you cannot really save Darfur without a stable Kenya as a good portion of the humanitarian aid flows through there. Recent reports are indicating that aid to Darfur is down to a trickle.

Second, Armenian migration into Africa was first free and then forced.

Third, notwithstanding the number of Armenians currently residing there which is small, as the current 'genocide' there is still disputed, the real genocide story about Sudan is the story of Armenian migration into Sudan circa 1915.

In conclusion, one current, ongoing tragedy, of disputed source and several complexities, has been used to divert the recognition of another.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Save Darfur?

Additionally, as Armenians began migrating out of Sudan during the civil war that was ongoing between the early 80s and early 2000s, some of them are refugees who are the ancestors of genocide refugees. They had a school and church there, I mean there was an Armenian community there, right.

This situation also resulted when millions of Iraqis were displaced inside and outside the country. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19055852/

And, some of those refugees are Armenian christians who are the ancestors of 'genocide' refugees (http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/js/030324iraq2.html; http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnew...wsId=621hjd41; http://www.168.am/en/articles/4125; http://www.genocide1915.info/research/view.asp?ID=42; http://www.genocide1915.info/history/chronology1915.asp) ; but, despite the tragedy, you don't hear anyone calling the Iraqi event 'genocide'. http://www.informationclearinghouse....ticle18564.htm

[Merv]

Re: Save Darfur?

I do not know if there is a genocide in Darfur currently, but the hysteria surrounding it, especially by xxxish groups, makes me suspect that it is not a genocide, although it certainly may be a very bad situation.

I don't know much about African history, but if I were inclined to label anything in Sudan a genocide, it would be the events that surround the Sudanese war decades back when the Muslim government attacked the Christians in the south.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sudanese_Civil_War

It is alleged that in this war/"war" that ran from 1983-2005, 2 million civilians in southern Sudan died. I don't know if these numbers are accurate, and I don't know much about the circumstances, but frankly it wouldn't surprise me to see a culturally Arab Muslim government attemp to wipe out a culturally Nubian Christian group.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Save Darfur?

A church with no parishioners
A school with no student
A story with no voice