"Before they left, they spat on us and urinated on us," Sumiah whispered. "They said: 'We will let you live so you can tell you mothers and fathers and brothers what we did to you. Tell them from us: If you stay, the same and worse will happen to you all. Next time, we will show no mercy. Leave this land. Sudan is for the Arabs. It is not for black dogs and slaves'" ~Tears of the Desert [Halimah Bashir]
As I read these words I blubbered up like a child as I came to realize that nothing I had gone through during my few years on this planet could possibly compare to the horror and grief those young girls must have experienced. But more than that I was utterly ashamed, because the author, a Darfurian of pure, African Zaghawa decent, blamed the Arabs for the horrific crimes committed against the people of Darfur, and somewhere in my heart I knew that she was not completely off. Halimah Bashir relays the atrocities committed by the Janjaweed onto young school girls between the ages of seven and thirteen. The Janjaweed are a coalition of gunmen from different Sudanese Arab tribes who have been employed to do the Sudanese government's "dirty work" in Darfur, and, recently, Eastern Chad. Surely, there aren't very many people who have not heard of the war ON Darfur (I say on because it is a war of terror, where the weaker entity is slowly, and fiercely being eliminated. Some have even gone so far as to call it a genocide, and who is to say it isn't at this point.) But the war in itself is an evasive topic many men before me have done a better job than I can ever attempt to do, trying to explain and describe it. As such, this piece might mention the war, but shall dwell on those who stand by idly watching it with little knowledge of the essence and meanings behind the oppression in Darfur.
The other day I was walking to class when a stand bearing a large banner that read "Help the Women of Darfur!" bought my attention. I felt obliged to walk over and ask the two young American ladies what they were up to. Apparently they were supporting some aid organization by selling chap-sticks covered in the Super Man logo. Without thought, I quickly took out what money I had and handed it over to the wide-eyed blonde who was speaking. As I handed her the money I told her that I was Sudanese and had felt obliged to come here and "help" upon reading "Darfur" on their banner. The girl smiled, nodded and said "Oh", as she handed me a chap-stick and wished me a good day. Clearly she had no clue where Sudan or Darfur was, or how it was related to what they were doing, since she gave me a look that read "Why would you tell us this?". To her, this was just another African cause, for that distant, dark continent full of woes and misgivings. Upon further thought, I was confused, and I wondered if the few dollars I had just helped or harmed the humble people of Darfur. More likely than not, the money would not even make it to those who needed it the most, so I decided neither.
As such I wonder, when people refer to Darfur in their substantial speeches of crime and genocide, do they actually know what they are talking about or are they regurgitating the words of Komla Dumor from the BBC? Do they know that the Darfurians are Muslim? Why then are they trying to tell me that the war in Sudan is one of religion? Did they know that the Fur tribe of West Darfur are the original inhabitants of the Cushtic lands, and it is they who conquered lands east and north of present day Darfur to formulate the Kingdom of Cush? Did they know that the kingdom of Cush had managed to topple and rule over the Ancient Egyptians? Did you know that these same great peoples are today being called "black dogs and slaves" simply because they are of black African ethnicity? Did you know that they blame me and every other Arab Sudanese for the loss of their children, their parents, their homes, and their lives? I bet you didn't know they blame you too. The more questions I ask, the more enraged I feel coming up with answers that all point to inexcusable ignorance.
But I cannot point a finger at the world with out pointing three at my own people. For the man who claims Sudan is for the Arabs, I ask, do you speak on my behalf? For all I comprehend is that you are speaking with half a brain. Please make it clear to me, help me understand what tragic accident has caused you to forget your history? To forget who you are?! When the arabs crossed the Red Sea, do you think they saw the two shades of difference between you and the people of west or south Sudan? I assure you, they would have captured you and shipped you off to labor just as soon as they would have every other inhabitant of your land! If you claim the people of Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and the South are black dogs, I beg of you to step beyond the borders of my dear continent to see that to the world, you are indistinguishable from those dogs. So what gives you the right to run an entire peoples out of their homes, after torturing them and burning down their homes and towns? Who recognized you as a man of superior ethnicity when even to the Arabs you wish so eagerly to be like, you are just another khal—another black man.
Often, here in The States, when I tell people I am from Sudan, they usually nod and smile with a casual "Wow! You're a long way from home." But if they are knowledgeable enough, they might ask "The North or the South?"
This particular question stirs up ambivalent emotions in me, for despite my educated upbringings some part of me has been nurtured to associate the south with poverty, and dark, african features. Thus the first image that comes to mind at such a question, is one of a tall dark woman with bold African features and kinky hair. Not the complete opposite of what I am—short, with slightly lighter skin, mixed Arab-African features, and smooth hair. As I internally question how I could explain the differences that distinguish a Northern Sudanese from a Southern/Wester Sudanese without referring to color or sounding arrogant, I realize that our differences might as well be skin deep, for at the thought of the West or South of Sudan I only recall physical features. In reality we share much of a similar Sudanese culture, but the civil war has turned us against each other and widened the gap between our people. Furthermore, as I quickly respond, "I am from the North" people almost automatically reiterate with "Oh, the muslim part?" Yes, Northern Sudan is predominantly muslim but why is that they key identifier of the North? I feel there is nothing that binds Islam to the hate and injustice bestowed on the whole of Sudan by the merciless ruling party. In fact, within the people of the South there is a minority group of Muslims who have been targeted just like every other Christian. The war in Sudan is purely one of politicized spite, for surly the fight between the Darfurians and the Janjaweed cannot be one of religion. It angers me that the media, time and time again reduces it to Arab-vs-African when the different ethnic factions in Darfur have coexisted for ages. The rebels that stirred up a quarrel in Darfur were mainly reacting to the governments neglect, and the government found no other way to keep its hands clean than to play the "tribal card"
The international community seems to be eager to bestow the blame on Omar alBashir for the countless lives lost in western Sudan, but when push comes to shove every man turns his back and claims that getting involved might only make matters worse. So I wonder, what could be worse than to see your mothers and sisters raped and abused before your eyes? What could possibly be worse than having to live everyday with an abundance of fear in your heart, praying to God that your father won't be shot while you are made to watch, like that other boy with his dad from the village near by? I wonder— if Sudan had had as much natural resources as Afghanistan or Iraq, would that have elevated the country to a status worthy of humanity's help and compassion? By compassion I do not mean buy and sell chap-sticks, but to learn. Learn of the struggles in Sudan, Burma, Palestine, Afghanistan, Congo, and every other bleeding nation of the world. Learn about the problems that should concern you just as they do me, so that when you offer to donate money you know that your donations will reach its intended parties, and not be seized by radical, oppressive, militias somewhere along the way (later be used towards the funding of more weapons of mass murder and crime). Learn to be human, and say no one SHOULD be butchered, and driven out of their homes because of the way they were born! No one SHOULD be raped at the age of eight because the abuser thinks they are BLACK DOGS. And as such, there must be something to right the wrongs, because if it SHOULD NOT be happening, that means what is going on is not natural and there is a way to change it. There is a way to make a difference, and HELP.
But for what little difference it might make, I cannot end this with out deeply and sincerely apologizing to the brave people of the diverse Sudan. I hear your cries, I feel your pain and I know that you think it is my fault. I know the Arab-speaking people have done you wrong many a times, but they are not my people, in fact they are merely nomadic savage beasts left behind by a cruel ancient time foreign to my own. I do not believe Sudan is for the Arabs, nor is it for the Africans. It is the home of the bridge atop which both ethnicities meet. It is home to the black, white, blue, brown, green, muslim, christian, animist, tall, short, fat, thin, diverse SUDANESE.
No comments:
Post a Comment