Making a difference

**Ó Cathasaigh** · September 28, 2007, 06:17 PM

So I joined a group on facebook dedicated to calling out the people who think saying "save darfur" is actually going to make a difference.

So basically, all hell has been breaking loose in the Darfur region of Sudan for like four years now. The conflict has led to so much death, displacement, and assorted human suffering that even overeducated, overpriveleged, upper middle-class American kids took a break from expanding their minds by getting high and talking about Ché and **** so that we could make a real difference in global events. To that end, myself and like-minded enlightened college activists did the one thing that could demonstrate exactly how deeply the harrowing photographs and stories from this war-torn African province have touched us: we joined a Facebook group to Stop The Genocide.

The thing is, even with everything we sacrificed, that colossal outpouring of empathy, all those hours spent browsing the profile pics of our fellow humanitarians to see who was the hottest, the genocide and ethnic cleansing hasn't quite so much stopped as it has moved into the fast lane, turned up the music, and flipped on the cruise control. So what the ****, man? Don't these ****ing heathens get that we're trying to help out here?

Anyways I made these solidarity bracelets to Fight Hunger or something while I figure out what the hell went wrong.

Why do people who think that "live strong bracelets" and "pink ribbons" are going to help? Are people actually so stupid as to beleive they make a difference?

**Cluny the Scourge** · September 28, 2007, 06:24 PM

If they were really serious about making a difference they would buy weapons and equipment and go sign up as a mercenary to fight the Sudanese.

**Richard** · October 01, 2007, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by Cluny the Scourge

If they were really serious about making a difference they would buy weapons and equipment and go sign up as a mercenary to fight the Sudanese.

Aren't they all Sudanese? (on paper, I doubt western notions of nationality matter a lot to these people)

**Cluny the Scourge** · October 01, 2007, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

Aren't they all Sudanese? (on paper, I doubt western notions of nationality matter a lot to these people)

Then fighting them all is going to shake things up and make the most effective difference, isn't it? Just parachute in and start spraying weapons fire at everything in sight, including trees and cattle.

**Kiljan Arslan** · September 28, 2007, 06:35 PM

Or at least send the peolpe there weapons.

**LSJ** · September 28, 2007, 08:02 PM

To save the people of Darfur they should give money and food for the starving, and sign up as mercenaries to save them from the murderous Janjaweed.

Or put REAL pressure on their governments to act. Ribbons and facebook won't do ****. Go lobby at your nation's capital with hundreds of people, protest your government's inaction, or something.

**Ramashan** · September 28, 2007, 08:00 PM

Why do people who think that "live strong bracelets" and "pink ribbons" are going to help?

For what its worth, the bracelets not only show your support for the cause (which I believe has been coopted by fashion in regards to the yellow live strong bracelet) but all the proceeds from the purchase of the bracelets to towards which ever research the bracelet represents. I believe Live Strong is Cancer.

**Ummagumma** · September 28, 2007, 08:15 PM

It's easy to stand on a soapbox when you are behind a keyboard. Yes, you will have to type that you are standing on one, or else no one else can see, but.. Surely just the combined good vibrations of the group will change things...
Meh. I should stop posting in the politics threads. It's full of the same displacement. "I'm [an age, generally under 25, and more fervent in my opinion the younger I am] and know how to make the world a better place!". Been there, also did nothing about it. Cynicism and Apathy rule.
You are moaning about a facebook group on a wargaming forum. Fight the power!

**Maverick** · October 01, 2007, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Ó Cathasaigh

Why do people who think that "live strong bracelets" and "pink ribbons" are going to help? Are people actually so stupid as to beleive they make a difference?

"Making a difference" is about making yourself feel good, in that context. This makes me laugh too, how do you stop global warming - easy you hold some concerts? The only way to change things in a democracy is to hold demonstrations that interrupt business, it's pretty simple.