Africa’s Misery
For the past week our roommate David and I have been glued to the television. There has been a series on CNN about Congo then Darfur. Africa’s misery, surely this is true.
We both caught blood from running under tongues. We grabbed our hearts. The sight of little girls violated, was more than we could bare.ÂÂ
In Darfur a one year old had been beaten on the side and shot in the hip. She was lifted up for us to see her wounds. In Congo a three year old girl crawls across the floor after being raped by grown men. She lived yet she can no longer hold her urine, possibly, she never will again. On and on and on…This hurts me I think, she could be my daughter look at those eyes, or she could be my niece look at her skin. Or oh Lord that could be me. David said the same. He and Sherriff are from The Gambia. They have never seen war in their country. As Africans, them having lived there, I believe it hurts them more. “Shame,� He says, “This is shameful, and the only people who care are powerless to do anything about it!�
Is this really true? God please, I hope not.
Just to see for yourselves. I wish I knew more I could post these links better…any ideas?
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/05/23/koinange.rape.war/index.html
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/article/detail/3078?PHPSESSID=3fc64258eda9d44c2
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October 12th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Thanks for posting these links. I feel like my heart has slowly been breaking over the last year or so for Africa. My wife and I went to a screening of a movie called “Blood Diamond” last night, which centers on diamond smuggling in Sierra Leone. The movie wasn’t that great, but the setting and the pain and the suffering continued to open my eyes…
And now I sit here in Southern California trying to figure out what I can do to help…
October 12th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
I know I’m at a lost for words, and actually this weak post can’t even compare to what needs to be said. I’ll check out Blood Diamonds. Another two good movies/documentaries are Somtimes in April and Totsi. It’s sad here are two more places in Africa Rwanda and South Africa that shares this misery. What is going on?
October 12th, 2006 at 10:20 pm
I’ve heard a lot about Sometimes in April (I took a genocide class with a prof who was a journalist in Rwanda and he said it was one of the best documentaries out there on Rwanda/genocide)….I’ll definitely check those both out.
Blood Diamond was good, but not great - it’s a hollywood film, so the focus is more on Leonardo DiCaprio’s character than the African struggle…but it’s at least another voice that is in some way directing people to the African crisis. My wife and I walked away from it wishing that it was more of a documentary instead of a highly produced movie…but oh well.
I echo your thoughts…what is going on? how can I/we help?
thanks for the post.
October 13th, 2006 at 12:41 am
Definately look at amnesty international. Sometimes they have petitions you can sign and so forth. Prayer, in that regard, we are never without hope.
In relation to the movie, any awareness is good. That movie might open a door to funding a good documentary. I don’t know which was first Hotel Rwands or Sometimes in April. I actually watch Hotel Rwanda first and then Sometimes in April. It may serve as a good arrow. Thanks for telling me about it. As always continue to pray for Africa.
October 16th, 2006 at 7:56 am
Are you guys familiar with the GULUwalks that are coming up next Saturday to raise funds and awareness for the children in war-torn Uganda . . .? This is a great way to act around the country . . . My wife and I have also had breaking hearts for the people of Africa over the last year or more, and have been doing all we can to learn about it . . . We have formed a small group who is looking at what we can do to help . . .
Invisible Children is another movie you are probably familiar with? The IC team will be touring early next year and screening the film for awareness.