From Time Magazine: "We concluded—I concluded—that genocide has been committed in Darfur, and that the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed bear responsibility, and that genocide may still be occurring," Powell said . . . Immediately after labeling the Janjaweed's slaughter genocide, Powell told lawmakers, "No new action is dictated by this determination" Apparently this stems in part from the US being "wary of intervening in another Muslim state."

Oh, okay, I see how it works: when we're not quite sure whether or not a Muslim state has weapons of mass destruction, but are quite sure that there's opportunities for American companies and American mercenaries (the real term for the "private contractors" those news articles keep telling us about) to make a huge profit, then we're all gung-ho to intervene unilaterally without UN or international support.

However, when "the largest humanitarian crisis in the world" is on our doorstep, the Bush administration is "wary" of "intervening" in another "Muslim state."

I'm not fucking stupid, Time.  I know the reason we're not intervening is not based on some moral ambiguity about our imperalist presence in 3rd world countries.  The administration had no problem when it was guaranteed to increase their coffers and distract from a rapidly declining economy.  No, the reason we're not intervening is because there is nothing in it for the people in power.  No US companies will profit.  No vice-presidents will enrich their old friends at their former companies.  No incompetent presidents will distract the hardworking population from the fact that their jobs are being outsourced and their health, education, and future are in jeopardy.

This reeks of Rwanda and Srebrenica.  We intervened in the genocide in the Balkans when it was expedient for Clinton to do so.  However, it was never expedient - there was nothing to gain, oh, except perhaps saving hundreds of thousands of lives - to intervene in some backwards country in Africa.

How many times has the world heard "Never Again"?  A stale biscuit thrown out for the few survivors of the atrocities of the 20th century: Armenian genocide, Holocaust, Cambodia, Vietnam, Rwanda, etc.

How long will it take for those words to ring true?  Perhaps we'll learn from the next atrocity.  Or the next.  Perhaps the one after that?

In the meantime, we'll just keep whispering "Never Again" in weak, half-hearted voices; but will yell "No more Terr-ah!", as long as it helps our God-fearing President win a few more votes.

Some Interesting Numbers

"In Wisconsin . . . the 2000 election was decided by 5,708 votes . . ."
"Oregon, where the last presidential race was decided by 6,765 votes . . ."
"New Mexico was decided by 366 votes . . ."
(NYTimes)

Those numbers are staggering.  I look at those, and I feel - I don't know, sort of sickened as well as heartened.

Yeah, I know we can get into an ugly discussion about the fradulent nature of our "democracy" when in fact it's electoral votes that get our president in, not to mention the non-representational nature of a first-past-the-post electoral system where the winner takes all (if 2% of the population votes for a certain party, shouldn't that party have a say in how our nation is run?).  Sure, we can keep that in mind.

But look at those numbers again, and try to tell yourself come November that you don't need to vote.

To be completely honest, I live in California which is most definitely not a swing state.  Maybe that's why I haven't felt any great urgency about my absentee ballot or making sure I have time off to vote (in Orange County, for God's sakes!).  Sure the media calls them the "crucial swing states" but every state is crucial.

Even if your "sure" your state is going to go to Bush (I'm sorry) or to Kerry (slightly better but still . . .) I hope you look at those numbers again and vote in Novemeber.  If Bush is voted out of office on a huge scale, which is not likely I know,  it will show our corporate-appointedelected officials that there is a populist mandate for a saner government.

I know that I mentioned before that this blog would actually have a focus, i.e. Vietnam/Iraq, and I swear I'm working on it, but it's taken on a life of its own.

I just wanted to share a new discovery: strawberry guavas.  I went home today and MG offered me them.  I eyed her suspiciously, she went out to grab two, placed them in my hand.  Cutest fruits ever!  Deep fuschia/red, a sphere a little larger than the size of my thumbnail.

And boy were they delicious!  Sweeter than the regular guava, I was able to eat these little beauties in one bite.  Mmm.

Quickie

why oh why do I not take my ADHD medication more regularly?  I was actually able to study for 4 hrs today.  I can't even describe the odd rship I have with the medication: when we're together, it treats me very well, but I feel this low-level guilt for not wanting to get together with it more often, and in fact, I often end up studiously avoiding its phone calls.