San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California)
April 1, 2007 Sunday
Stop genocide in Darfur
What are we waiting for?
As the richest country in the world, we have to stop the genocide in
Darfur, Sudan!
According to the U.N., 400,000 men, women and children have been
killed in Darfur. Millions of people have been forced from their
homes and face starvation, rape and the constant threat of violence.
I have been a world history teacher for the past eight years.
Each year, when I teach about the genocides of the 20th century, like
the Armenian Genocide of 1914, the Holocaust of World War II, the
Rape of Nanking of 1937 and Rwanda in 1994, students are always
baffled as to why didn’t anyone do anything to stop these atrocities.
I try my best in explaining that some people did try but not those in
power.
So today, in 2007, what are those in power waiting for?
The U.N. has already declared the genocide in Darfur to be the worst
humanitarian crisis in the world today.
Right now, candidates for public office are traveling the campaign
trail describing their visions for the future.
As Election Day approaches, stopping the genocide in Darfur must be
on the agenda.
I, for one, will not vote for any candidate who doesn’t use his or
her position of power to stop these inhumane massacres.
Araceli Castillo-Parrales
Baldwin Park