World cup - Mea Culpa

Last July, I wrote a post about how Nelson Mandela used a rugby match to help heal some of the racial divide in the newly democratic South Africa after the collapse of apartheid. This was the basis of the movie, "Invictus." It just added to all the many other things which I admire about Nelson. But, lately I have contradicted my own conviction by writing on a number of FB walls about how I did not want the Netherlands to win the World Cup in South Africa because of their brutal colonial policies there and the establishment of the apartheid policies by descendants of the original Dutch settlers. Shame on me for not seeing this as another opportunity where sport can be a source of healing instead of a political divide. Here is how South Africans themselves are reacting to the Dutch team:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/sports/soccer/11soccer.html?_r=2&hp

Important video

Please, please, please look at this video and share it with everyone you know. We were so upset about blood diamonds. Now, we are supporting the horrific rapes and other violence in eastern Congo with our cell phones and computers including the one I am using right now. How many women were raped so I could work on my laptop while watching TV?

http://www.youtube.com/enoughproject#p/a/u/1/aF-sJgcoY20

Conflict minerals

On the 50th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, perhaps we should all think about how each of us contribute to the horrific violence which is going on there when we use our cell phones or computers.

Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/enoughproject

And this Nick Kristof column:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27kristof.html?scp=2&sq=Nicholas%20Kristof&st=cse

Congo Celebration?

Today, June 30, 2010, is the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo from Belgium. But, is there anything to celebrate? It has been 50 years of war, rebellion, corruption and horrific violence. It seems to me that this is a legacy of Belgium. While all the nations which colonized Africa have abysmal records of exploitation and destructive policies, none can match the horror imposed on Congo by Leopold II and later Belgium. They made it next to impossible for the Congo to establish a stable nation after gaining independence. And, then the leader of independence, Patrice Lumumba was overthrown withing weeks of independence and assassinated within months. Belgium has accepted "moral responsibility, but not guilt" for this. Huh? Unfortunately, there is more "moral responsibility" to go around. The U.S. and the World Bank supported Lumumba's successor, Mobutu, as part of our Cold War policy in Africa. Strange how we stopped supporting Mobutu once the U.S.S.R. collapsed and let the Congo implode. Lumumba's son is currently suing Belgium for complicity in his father's murder. He wants them to admit guilt and do something to help his tortured country.

I am left with two questions:
1. Is there anything to celebrate about the last 50 years in Congo?
2. Can a nation (or person) have moral responsibility, but not guilt?

And now from Bono

In Sunday's NYT, Bono wrote an op-ed piece about the apology which PM David Cameron issued on behalf of Britain for the actions of Bloody Sunday. 38 years later. He explains far better than I ever could why this apology is so important and what it means to the people in Ireland. Please check it out and share your opinion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/opinion/20bono.html?scp=2&sq=Bono&st=cse

Finally, Britain Takes the Blame for Bloody Sunday

Finally! It took 38 years, but Britain finally admitted that its troops were totally responsible for what happened in Derry, Northern Ireland on January 30, 1972. Some of you have seen the excellent film, “Bloody Sunday” (some of you with me), more of you know what happened on the horrific Sunday and all of you know the U2 song, “Bloody Sunday”. But it took a twelve year investigation and 38 years for the British to admit that 14 unarmed, innocent Irish demonstrators were shot and murdered while participating in a non-violent civil rights march based on the principles of Martin Luther King. Instead of more peaceful protests, this dreadful day led to a resurgence of the IRA and almost 40 years of bitter dispute and violence between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Prime Minister David Cameron said in the House of Commons, “...There are no ambiguities. What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong...And for that, on behalf of the government - and indeed for our country - I am deeply sorry.”

I guess this answers the U2 question:

“How long...
How long must we sing this song
How long, how long...”

The answer is 38 years.

It was a very dignified apology by Cameron, but it leaves several serious questions unanswered. After this conclusion, should the British troops or their commanders be held criminally responsible for their actions in 1972? And what does Britain owe the families of the victims now that it has admitted that all of the casualties were unarmed?

More on the Flotilla

I just wanted to share some sites from former Conflicters. First is an article written by Ben Joffe-Walt, an old Conflicter. Some of you may remember him as the man who got his picture on the front page of the NYT as a human shield in Iraq and then had to sneak back into the country when he spoke to that Conflicts class. His article is at:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/flotilla_crisis/article/israelis_react_to_the_confrontation_at_sea_20100531/

Also,from Nehad Khader (Tarek's sister) who is currently in Ramallah. She sent a reminder about the Irish:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0601/breaking33.html

Israel, what are you doing?

The latest incident off Gaza in which the Israelis boarded what seem to have been humanitarian ships and used force which resulted in the death of nine people is almost beyond comprehension. The reports are so muddled that it seems very difficult to get an accurate picture of the events. However, one thing is very clear. Israel now looks like a bully using force against people who had only humanitarian intentions of helping the Palestinians suffering in Gaza. And, of course, Hamas looks like the victim in chief. It does not matter if the blockade is legal. In the court of international opinion, Israel is seen as wrong. It amazes me that a people who were victims for so much of their history elect leaders who seem willing to turn their adversaries into victims.
Zach Mag sent this opinion piece from the NYT. What do you think? I really, really wish I could be in a Conflicts class today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/opinion/02oz.html?hp

Women: Tradition v Modernization

This has certainly been the year when women's issues are finally being given some of the attention they deserve. It is due to books like "Half the Sky", but many other sources also. Conflicts classes across the years struggled with various "women's" issues such as FGM and whether Westerners had the right or even the responsibility to go into another culture and try to change it - even with the best of motives and to help powerless victims. Was this interference or intervention? Was this humanitarianism or cultural imperialism? Well, Judah Ferst (260) posted a video about women not having to choose between their traditions and western (modern?) ways. She discusses using traditions to bring about the change within culture, instead of abandoning tradition for western culture. It is powerful. Hope you will get a chance to look at it and tell us what you think.

http://www.ted.com/talks/kavita_ramdas_radical_women_embracing_tradition.html

Why I Hate Mugabe

Never a year went by when I was teaching where classes did not question why Africa is so poor and backward after being the birthplace of the human race, toolmaking, language and so many things which make us human plus numerous great kingdoms in its golden age. We've discussed Jared Diamond's theory about the lack of large mammals able to be domesticated. (Gun, Germs and Steel) And then there is the loss of 50 million people in the Atlantic slave trade plus the resulting social and economic disruption to African societies. And, then colonization with its complete denigration of African culture. All these are historically true, and all help explain the plight of Africa today. But, let's forget history for a moment, and talk about current politics. Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of Africa and a leader in prosperity, has been brought to absolute destitution by one man - Robert Mugabe. The man who refuses to die, to go into exile and who manages to escape overthrow through his complete destruction of the opposition. Nick Kristof has just returned from Zimbabwe, described as "undisclosed location" while he was there. He went in as a tourist since foreign journalists are not allowed in. Read his latest column on the tragedy of Zimbabwe and the amazing resiliency of the human spirit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/opinion/11kristof.html

Reporter

I just saw the documentary, “Reporter” which follows Nick Kristof and two of the “winners” of his Win a Trip with Nick Kristof to east Congo, specifically the area of Kiva around Goma. There is so much in it that I hardly know where to begin. For people interested in writing and in journalism (or worried about the future of journalism), Nick shares his own philosophy on writing and how it is based in recent research on what reaches people and causes them to become compassionate enough to act. The film follows the trio to a meeting with the warlord, Laurent Nkunda in his camp. It was unnerving to watch them saying grace before meals and hear them describe themselves as “Christian rebels.” They even had a room designated as a chapel, and Nkunda described himself as their pastor! Anyone familiar with the war in east Congo knows how many deaths, rapes and mutilations Nkunda’s militia has been responsible for.

As with Darfur, what would we know about this war if Nick and the very few others (if any) who are willing to go there to shine a light on what is actually happening. To be a witness for the rest of the world. It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from my absolutely favorite book, “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Talking to Jem and Scout, the neighbor, Miss Maudie, describes what Atticus is doing in defending Tom Robinson this way: “...some men in this world are born to do our unpleasant jobs for us...” I believe Nick Kristof fits that characterization for our 21st century world.

I have a copy of the movie because a good friend taped it for me when it was on HBO. If anyone wants to borrow it or can figure out a way we can watch it together (at Central perhaps), let me know.

Congo: The Beat Goes On

For as long as I taught Conflicts, there was war in Congo, especially eastern Congo. The Rwandan genocide ended and that conflict overflowed and continued in Congo. Mobutu was overthrown, and the war continued. Laurent Kabila was killed, and the war continued. Mutanga was convicted of crimes against humanity, and the war goes on. Each year in Conflicts, there was a different aspect to look at: rape as a weapon, the use of child soldiers, cult leaders, the role of diamonds and other minerals, and so on and so on. Finally, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bravely visited eastern Congo, and the war goes on. The deaths from this war are now estimated to be over six million. It has been called Africa’s first world war. I just call it horrific. I did not think it could get worse, but it has. Now a new tactic has become known to the world: re-rape. Girls and women who were repaired and healed - at least physically - are returning to clinics after being raped again - and again. I thought that I had heard the worst until reading about a new tactic: autocannibalism. Militia soldiers cut flesh from living victims and force them to eat it.

How can the world allow this to continue in 2010? Not only the scope of the war, but also its brutality? Is it because it is taking place in Africa away from the attention of the world’s media? When will the world care about Africa?

Conference for Students On Haiti

I am passing this on from Audrey Huntington. Thanks, Audrey. It really sounds good. And, as Audrey points out, "...we all love Paul Farmer." Hope to hear your reactions.

CALLING ALL STUDENTS:

Dear students across the nation,

Dr. Jim Yong Kim will be leading an online discussion on *Tuesday,
January 26 at 5:30pm EST* on the national student response to the
recent earthquake in Haiti.

To access the online discussion at 5:30pm EST, visit:
http://act.pih.org/jyk-students

As President of Dartmouth College and a co-founder of Partners In
Health, Dr. Kim will speak about the earthquake, PIH's response, why
national student solidarity is critical to the response, and how
students from across the country can help.

The call is open to all students (graduate, undergraduate, high
school, middle school, etc) who are interested in learning more about
the situation and how to mobilize their school communities to respond
to the earthquake in Haiti.

Dr. Kim will be speaking via an online video stream and taking live
questions through the video player's chat feature. We will also be
accepting questions by email up until the talk begins. To send your
question in early, email sdhr@dartmouth.edu with the subject line "JYK
TALK: Your name, your school"

For Jim Yong Kim's bio: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~president/bio/

Lack of women in China

A number of Conflicts classes talked about the one child policy in China either as a class topic or as an individual project. Remember "The Dying Rooms", the video about abandoned baby girls basically left to die? Well, the policy's long term effects are really beginning to effect China with millions of men not being able to find wives and all the consequences of this. Check it out on this link:

http://www.sphere.com/world/article/shortage-of-women-in-china-poses-marriage-challenge/19311767?icid=main|main|dl1|link1|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sphere.com%2Fworld%2Farticle%2Fshortage-of-women-in-china-poses-marriage-challenge%2F19311767

Happy New Year

Think how many times you've said or heard the phrase, "Happy New Year" in the last few weeks. But, what does it mean? Leave it to Nick Kristof to take on the issue of happiness on an international level.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html

What do you think makes a nation and its people happy? After all, Thomas Jefferson thought it was important enough to put in the Declaration of Independence. "... that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (We'll have the inalienable v unalienable argument another time.)