It would be unconscionable to
lift sanctions on a government who has had a history of genocide as an ongoing
policy. And a history of lying. I consider it a betrayal if the United States
lifts sanctions on the Sudan government. In his first term, President Obama
wrote to me that Darfur and Sudan are a priority to his administration. I have
seen no sign of this being true. Senator Barack Obama said in his speech at the
Save Darfur Rally on April 30, 2006 "If we care, the world will
care. If we bear witness, the world will know. If we act, the world will
follow." We have done nothing to show we care. If only words could heal ~
and they can play a
part, but we need our leaders to have the political will and moral integrity to
act on behalf of courage and basic human rights that allow living out a normal
lifespan with dignity. We are waiting for the actions of our honorable
President to match the words he so eloquently and rightly spoke when he was a
U.S. Senator and a Presidential candidate.
There is nothing redeeming about
being silent when speaking up is the humane thing to do. The honor and
integrity of the human race relies on it. Complicity is not a policy. Complicity comes from a lack of will. It comes from an administration that
has lost its moral compass. It
comes from a world too wrapped up in its self-importance to stop and
contemplate just what
human disaster will we condemn, if not genocide. Just
exactly when is genocide not okay with
us? Just exactly which group of people can we turn our backs on and the
definition of genocide fits our values? A moral nation needs to stand up for
justice. Genocide flourishes when there is no accountability. Where there is a will there
is always a way. Where there is no will there is never a way.
One voice won’t
stop a genocide, but that is no excuse to be silent. I have never chosen
silence regarding Sudan. I cannot imagine lifting sanctions is the honorable
thing to do. How can this administration? Omar Hassan Al Bashir is a suspect at
large from the International Criminal Court for 10 counts of crimes: 5 counts
of crimes against humanity: murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture,
and rape; 2 counts of war crimes: intentionally directing attacks against a
civilian population, 3 counts of genocide. The legacy of President Obama and
his administration regarding Sudan is already poor, lifting sanctions would
make the legacy even worse. Sandra Hammel
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