I just got back from the press conference to kick off our Ride Against Genocide: Promoting Awareness and Action tour. It was so uplifting to be on the steps of our beautiful capitol building overlooking the scenic mountains in the distance. We were so lucky to have Tamara Banks, International Correspondent on Channel 12, emceeing the press conference. Joining us was Barbara Coloroso, author of Extraordinary Evil: A Brief History of Genocide. Our other speakers included Essie Garrett, Ultra-marathoner and instructor at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, who has run thousands of miles on behalf of many charities and Ahmed Ali, a Darfurian and Secretary General of the Darfur Association in the United States (DAUSA). Additionally, Adrian Miller, Senior Policy Analyst for Gov. Ritter read the Govenor's Proclamation of Genocide Awareness Week for Colorado. (August 30 - September 5, 2010)
I have been with the Coalition for a few months now working on grants and preparing for this tour. It's so easy to just go through the motions and set aside the purpose of all this work. This press conference really hit home for me. Hearing Roz's moving speech and remembering that all our efforts are to save human beings just like us, to save our worldly brothers and sisters, gave me the same feeling I got the first time I met with Roz to learn more about the organization, a feeling of sadness and urgency mixed with goodwill and hopefulness.
GENOCIDE is a heavy word. Thinking about it gives me a feeling similar to when I look at the painful faces of the men and women begging on our own street corners, a simultaneous feeling of helpfulness and helplessness. In our daily lives, we all encounter our own struggles, our own problems with money, lack of food, lack of time, sickness etc. I've come to realize though that if we don't keep the fight against genocide alive, if we become passive, or if we push it aside for another day we are telling the world, the perpetrators, the victims, and our future generations that genocide is okay, that it is something that can be brushed under the rug and forgotten.
GENOCIDE seems like such a foreign concept to nations. Surely genocide would never happen 'my' country. I bet the Jews never thought that someone would try to wipe them from the face of the earth but they did. I bet the Tutsis and moderate Hutus of Rwanda never thought they would die at the hands of their neighbors and friends but they did. Not us, they surely thought.
If we turn on backs to the world who will be there to help if one day someone decides our life is no longer valuable and sets out to end it? Would we, too, be brushed under the rug and forgotten?
FEAR is two-pronged. While the Darfurians in Sudan are fearing for their lives, those who are able to help (you and I) are fearful of taking a stand. Saying "STOP GENOCIDE" is easy but committing yourself to the cause and recognizing that there are lives on the line holds you accountable. It may seem easy to not help at all but something as simple as saying genocide aloud and talking to your friend and family about what it is and where it is keeps it from slipping into the shadows and gives the people of Darfur and the memories of those who have perished in genocides past a fighting chance to live on.
I took the plunge and it isn't easy. There never seems to be enough time or enough money or enough people who care but if you were dying of starvation or your family was dying or your children were dying wouldn't you want someone to care? Take a minute to educate yourself and take the plunge. I promise it is worth it.
Please follow our tour here on our blog, on Twitter: @CCGAA or on Facebook: The Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action.
Visit http://www.ccgaa.org/events for the tour itinerary.
Courtney Allen, Summer Intern
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