A Moment for Darfur

I'm a firm believer that no questions are stupid ones, and I'm also unfraid to display my ignorance--whether I know I'm showing it or not. With that in mind, keep reading.

This weekend I watched a most excellent special on the Darfur crisis, courtesy of the National Geographic channel. The special followed a young marine and his attempts to release his photos--clear evidence of genocide--to the world. I never quite understood why people were giving China such a hard time about the upcoming Olympics, or why peace forces just hadn't invaded the region already. Hundreds and thousands have died, millions have been displaced. So, the logical question is this: Why haven't we (or anyone) done anything?

It's quite simple, really. The Janjaweed, Arabs also known as "the devil on horseback," have swept the region, cleansing it of anyone--and anything--deemed inferior (aka Africans). They aren't shy about discussing who is supporting them--the Sudanese government. But, the government denies offering any support to them. Sudan is oil-rich. China needs oil and buys a lot of Sudan's. China's oil money goes to the government...which, eventually, goes to...seeing the connection here? Now, a country can refuse help and support from the international community (ie UN). Sudan has done just that, claiming that their "conflict" is not the definition of "genocide."
Without "clear" evidence of genocide or ethnic cleansing, no one can step in. It's tragic, really. Perhaps even a Holocaust in the making. Will we look back at these years as ones of shame? As citizens of the richest country in the world, it's so easy to push it out of our minds and turn our heads, assuming someone will take care of things, some day. But if our dollars and people aren't there, it's just not worth our precious time.