At the Save Darfur Now rally in Washington, DC, yesterday, I was shocked and almost moved to tears at the great Jewish response to the genocide in Darfur. I couldn't stretch out my arms without touching someone in a kippah, tzitzit, or carrying a Hebrew-language sign calling for justice for the oppressed.
In reality, I know that I shouldn't be surprised by the outpouring of Jewish support. We are, after all, a people that promised that an atrocity like the Holocaust would never happen again. If we do not protest the genocide of a people, be they Jew or gentile, what right do we have to defend the State of Israel? To expect help from other human beings when the world invariably turns its face away from us? To honor the Torah, which bids us to not stand idle while the blood of our fellow brothers and sisters is shed?
The answer: None. We have no right at all.
And you know what? We haven't done enough.
Where were we in 1994, during the ethnic cleansing in Rwanda when 800,000 people were murdered in only 100 days?
Where were we during the years between 1992 and 1995, when madman Slobodan Milosevic led the Serbs in the slaughter of 200,000 Bosnians?
We Jews need to stop talking about how evil genocide is and do something about it. Send letters to your representatives, your elected leaders, your local news stations, your friends. Spread awareness in any way you can. Lead a fundraiser. Start an organization. Donate money. Protest.
However, for all the ranting in this post, I am genuinely pleased that so many Jews showed up for this rally. Such attendance renews my faith and makes me want to be more active in the fight for justice in Darfur. Thank you to all who showed up and took a stand. Thank you to all those Jews who spoke when others could not, whether it be in Rwanda, Bosnia, or Darfur. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
K.
Appendix I: An apology.
Sorry for the rant. It kind of got out of hand.
Appendix II: Photos
These are some of the pictures that I took from Sunday's rally. Click on the thumbnails for to see them in more detail. (Please excuse the unprofessional layout. I'm not very good at this.)
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16. 1) An Israeli flag waving in crowd.
2) Crowd shot.
3) Another crowd shot.
4) Yet another crowd shot.
5) The Reform Jewish movement showed up.
6) An African man who I believe was from the afflicted areas. Throughout the rally, he whispered "Thank you" and "G-d bless you" under his breath to the crowd. Made me cry.
7) A kid in a tree... a personification of the youth movement.
8) "Vegan Jews Against Genocide." I wasn't aware that there was any other kind.
9) "I Saw It. I Escaped It. Stop It Now!!"
10) California Representative Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor.
11) California Representative Nancy Pelosi.
12) New Jersey Governor John Corzine.
13) Actor George Clooney (his father, who was a much better speaker, showed up too).
14) Illinois Senator Barak Obama.
15) Rev. Al Sharpton.
16) Activist and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.
Appendix III: Links
PBS: The Triumph of Evil-- Rwanda
United Human Rights Council: Bosnia Genocide-- Bosnia
Save Darfur-- Non-profit
As one of the people in the Vegan Jews Against Genocide posse, I have to agree with you! Someone came up to us and said, "What a minority." But I'm with you--I can't think of any vegan Jews who aren't against genocide!
ReplyDeleteActually, what the kid said to his friends as he passed us was, "Vegan Jews against genocide? Talk about a minority!"
ReplyDeleteJust trying to make our ways through this world as peacefully and consistently as possible!
These comments made me smile. Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteK.
PS. Though I am not and could never be a vegan (I'm such a weakling), I really respect you all for have such strong beliefs and being stalwart enough to act on them. As they say, keep on keeping on!
You'd be surprised just how easy it is to be vegan. And even more surprised to find out about all the vegan athletes and even bodybuilders out there.
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested in learning more, ordering a free vegetarian starter kit (which includes recipes!), and maybe even trying it for a week at a time or a day or so every week, go to GoVeg.com. (Or the Jewish version, HumaneKosher.com :-))
Thank you very much for the information. I will be sure to check it out.
ReplyDeleteK.
As I said on Michael's blog. The question is the how mot the if! This is complicated by the deeds of the Bush Army and the scandals of UN forces in Liberia (women abuse)
ReplyDeleteAre you a Jewish vegan too if so let me know. We could then list our blogs in links. Daniel from the UK
No, I am not a Jewish vegan, but I work at a camp that is brimming with them, so I find it interesting. You can tell a lot about people about their eating habits.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting! :)
K.