As a memorial, I give you the names and ages of the dead children, as provided by the rebel Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (Sudan Tribune, March 24): Abdel-Latif Hassan Gar El-Nabi, 7 months old; Ahmed Musa, 7 months old; Munir Mohamed Ibrahim, 9 months old; Esam Babiker Yacoub, 3 years old.
At another camp, Otash, after the mother of a 10-year-old, weak from dehydration after vomiting all night long, took him to a clinic, the door was locked. Said a relative of the boy: "The white people used to come every day. Now the clinic is closed." It had been a service of the International Rescue Committee, one of the organizations thrown out of Sudan by Gen. al-Bashir
...
During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama said the mass rapes and killings orchestrated by Gen. al-Bashir had left a "stain on our souls." And, with a heavy heart, he promised "never again." Yet, during Mr. Obama's widely publicized March 24 press conference, he didn't say a word about Darfur.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/06/the-forgotten-people/
Perhaps Mr Obama's "change" meant that he won't even look at Sudan. And perhaps "never again" was promised with that same idea in mind.
He addressed the Muslim world to tell them that from now on America will try to be better (and nobody will have to live with a Jewish neighbour either).
The "Muslim world"... Who is the "Muslim world"? It's not Ahmed Musa, 7 months, mentioned above; or Munir Mohamed Ibrahim, 9 months, also mentioned above. Obama did not speak to them. He didn't speak about them either.
George Bush did.
Whatever the evils of George Bush and whatever one's opinion is regarding him, nobody can claim that he simply ignored the victims of genocide. He didn't do enough. That's true. But he didn't tell the "Muslim world" that everything is dandy and they can continue as they always have.
I am annoyed with President Obama. I am annoyed because he, an African-American (which means nothing), whom Africans have celebrated (which should mean something) isn't doing anything for Africans.
He wants friendship and dialogue with their murderers.
He should use his influence for good.