Letter to Senator John Kerry on the Situation in Darfur

November 28, 2006

Senator John F. Kerry

304 Russell Senate Office Bldg.

3^rd Floor

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Kerry,

Although you are busy, please a take a moment to read this letter. Recently a speaker from Rwanda spoke to a group of activists. Her name was Sifa, and she told this group about her experience in the genocide in Rwanda. She also speaks for those dying of malnutrition, disease, and slaughter in an ongoing genocide, the non-Arab of Sudan. The tragedy is an atrocity and must be stopped. As the sole superpower in the world, the U.S. has the responsibility to stop these horrendous killings. While understanding the U.S. has done a lot compared to other countries; being the first to call the genocide a genocide, putting pressure on the U.N. and Sudan to stop the killing, etc; in contrast to what the U.S. could be doing, it isn’t enough. Sifa complains there are political complications. Are political desires really valued the same as lives of over 300,000 people and growing? Each person had a family, friends, a life, and was special. The genocide in Sudan needs to be ended.

The ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of Sudan is horrible, and can only be expected to get worse. Over 300,000 people have been killed. The world should care for those who are being killed, tortured and raped in Sudan. Imagine if 300,000 people were killed in the United States. There would be outrage around the world, and something would be done. The world does not want another Rwanda. This is a modern Holocaust. While it’s still possible and while there are still Sudanese left to save the world needs to end the genocide. Everyone should care because of the suffering the native Sudanese go through. In the refugee camps, they are tortured by hunger, dehydration, malady, climate, grief of lost loved ones, rape and injury. If it is possible for anyone to do something about this unacceptable event, they have the right and the responsibility to do so. You have the power to do something, and you should.

Not only should you care as a human being, but as a senator of the United States. If you could help stop the genocide, there would be political benefits. You would gain support from humanitarian groups, and others who are glad about the end of a reign of terror. After Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, it would be good for the U.S. to demonstrate it won’t stand for abuses of human rights and doesn’t want these abuses to occur. Although there may be reasons for not dealing with the killing of non-Arab Sudanese, there is no way it can outweigh the killing of 300,000 innocent lives.

There are several things you can do because you are in a position of influence. Just because you are known and have so much influence, just promoting awareness helps the cause. Endorsing groups, such as Amnesty International that are attempting to end the conflict also gives aid. The largest move you could make is sponsoring a bill in Congress. This bill could have different possible objectives, including sanctions or possibly even sending troops there. Sending troops would almost certainly be impossible, with our valiant troops already fighting two wars. Any of these suggestions would be a great aid to the cause of stopping the killing in Darfur, Sudan.

The genocide in Sudan is not only Sudan’s or Africa’s problem. It is the world’s problem. Something has to be done to stop this intolerable act of injustice. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this.