Today I went to the Darfur Conference at Kean University with my UP. It was absolutely amazing. It's sad, considering I've been in the University Program for four years, but I feel like this is the first time EVER that I am truly affected by all this. I mean, REALLY affected. I can't get it out of my head. Like, amidst all the other crazy things zigzagging through my head right now, images like the one above me are in my head.
Nicholas Kristof was amazing, as was Jerry Ehrlich, an 80ish-years-old man who was a part of Doctors Without Borders. They both had such passionate, insightful, REAL presentations that really made my heart swink yet swell at the same time. It made me think that yes, change IS plausible AND possible. I had thought for a while, in my teenage cynicism, that wearing a "Save Darfur" T-shirt won't really doooo much, sort of a self-important thing to do. However, today taught me that anything, awareness and whatnot matters, but what's even more important is immediate action.
Of course, as my parents reminded me (I corrected them with my vehement and youthful idealism-cum-realism) corruption will always happen. Yes, of course it does, corruption's in America as well. BUT it's under a transparent government in which rule of law is fairly being upheld. After years of British colonization and war for 50 years of war, Sudan needs some help from outside places. Of course, in the end it is the nation itself that needs to change its outlook, but as people lucky enough to live in a well-to-do country, we need to make action to perserve these human rights.
So now I think the only credible organization I can trust right now is Doctors Without Borders. I know NOT to think that the government can really do anything--this woman from the U.S. Department of State African Affair bureau just reassured why I hate bureaucracy and policymaking so much. You could tell she hated her job as well. But Doctors Without Borders...well that's men like Mr. Ehrlich who just want to help those who have suffered already. It's not everything, but it's something.
OH and I am completely for a boycott of the Chinese Olympics. To be a realist, they're a government who won't listen to what others say about their policies (but I commend you
Mr. Spielberg~) and it'd be pretty whack if the American economy, shitty as it is, did like an embargo is Chinese goods (hahah omg wtf). But, if it's anything, I don't like America being complacent with China having the Olympics this year, a place where there are/were 68 offenses that warrent the death penalty and have good relations with the Sudanese government.
So yeah, as of now I want to donate money to Doctors Without Borders. Don't want to get involved with messy government stuff which will only add to corruption. Boo. Which I guess is why I'm not majoring in this, I don't want to end up being that woman swamped in bureaucracy she hates (though I could do the Peace Corps..). All throughout the speechmaking and whatnot today, I was thinking "I care a lot about this shit...and I'm majoring in Theater?" But you know, I feel the arts can be just as a necessary part of expression and exposure to issues and I can care just as much as these issues and pursue a career in theater.
I am no savior. As of now I guess I'm still a complacent American. But my eyes have been opened.
OH OH OH I was going to say something else that reminded me but it's random and this entry is long and when I'm in a similar mood like this I'll bring it up k ^_^
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