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October 01, 2005
Dar Fur: Quaint Student Activism
I thought I might pass along this quaint little bit of student activism I found in my Lounsbury at Aqoul mailbox. It's a bit precious but who knows, some of you less cynical and more inclined to such things might wish to know about this:
Dar Fur Fast.
I personally found the concept quite stupid and rather typically student activist (what is the penchant for idiotic acronymic group names among North American student activists - STAND, students against something or other...), but regardless, one must show one cares, yes?
Regardless, they start right out by annoying me with that idiotic, abusive usage "genocide" in regards to Dar Fur. Well, again, like the Irshaad Manji item I just posted in 'Aqoul, there is this tendency to inflate and want to be part of the cool suffering gang as well. Nothing is "merely" anything, if there are horrors, why they must be genocide.
Regardless, for those into such things, here is a chance to express yourselves. You can be sure I will not. Certainly as drilling through I find it doubly silly as Ramadan starts shortly, so the special fasting timing rather implies those behind this are ... well... not Muslims rather clearly.
Posted by The Lounsbury at October 1, 2005 08:16 PM
Filed Under:
MENA Fringe
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Comments
oh wow!
this made me laugh.
theyre even going to broadcast a message into darfur to let the people know the world is behind them by not eating.
i think the people of darfur would probably more desire food, shelter, or whatever the deficiency of the hour is (security, peace, stability?) rather than a radio broadcast saying fat kids in a far off land are not eating their donuts, pork rinds, pizza, and other, less nutritious, foods.
morons.
Posted by: drdougfir at October 1, 2005 08:48 PM
Activism is very "trendy" at the moment. Go into major fashion outlets in N. America and you'll see b&w documentary style celebrity ads against X problem. Also, the cool kids are now wearing white wristbands with some drivel about eliminating poverty written on the outside.
I'm not an activist because I don't want to deal with Western-style righteous indignation and pamphlet-knowledge ignorance. My time is better spent understanding the issues, the actors, the bad incentives.
Of course, there is the despair that comes with knowing just how bad things really are and how difficult it is to solve these problems, but I think understanding the complexity of an issue is more important than fasting, sit-ins, vigils, etc.
Hence the existence of 'Aqoul, I suppose.
Posted by: eerie at October 1, 2005 09:10 PM
We could simply repost that excellent piece you did last year on LJ, as a token statement of support.
Posted by: eerie at October 1, 2005 09:14 PM
