I know I can be a little overly idealistic, maybe even naïve from time to time. I’ve been aware of this since I was old enough to know what idealistic meant, around the same time that I gained the reputation of “The Hippie That Wants to Save the World,” more commonly known as a Democrat.

I am especially idealistic and optimistic when it comes to international issues like the AIDS epidemic, starvation, and poverty in developing countries. When I say “optimistic” I mean that I tend to believe that there is some difference that we as individuals can make in the lives of others that are less fortunate and in need. I also tend to believe that our government, as well as the governments of other countries that have the capacity, will care for those who suffer and do everything in their power to help establish safety, good health, and peace. Very often I am let down by these seemingly reasonable, yet unrealistic expectations.

In Darfur, a region of Western Sudan in Africa, there is currently a genocide going on during which over 200,000 lives have been lost, over two million people have been internally displaced, and famine is widespread. A rebel group called the Janjaweed has been trying to “cleanse” the region of its black Africans, who differ in appearance and culture from the Arab Africans. Refugees from Darfur say that following air raids by government aircraft, the Janjaweed ride into villages on horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping women, and stealing whatever they can find. The government is highly suspected of supporting the rebel group, due to various accounts of the Janjaweed using government-supplied weapons and carrying military or government badges. The Sudanese government denies all of this and blames their neighboring country, Chad, for supporting the group. Millions of the targeted civilians fled their destroyed villages and went to camps near the main towns in Darfur, but there is not enough food, water, or medicine. Although some African Union troops have been deployed around the Darfur area, there are too few of them to protect the Darfurians and maintain safety. The UN has also made efforts to provide security, but the Sudanese government is unhappy with the suggestions of the UN taking control.

It’s a frustrating and confusing situation that sometimes seems to have no end or hope for a solution. Although awareness has recently been increased, not many people seem to know the facts or care about the outcome of the problem in Darfur. Genocide is an international crisis, and the entire world should be heartbroken by this conflict, but it seems that not enough people realize the seriousness of it and the desperation of a mass community. Now this is where I get angry, and a little embarrassed too, that so few people, and that includes members of political groups and the government, are concerned enough to do something about this. Some people don’t even know that there is a genocide taking place. And I can’t be mad at them, because it’s not a deliberate denial of injustice; it’s just the attitude of the majority in America, and sometimes in the whole world. An attitude that says, “Yes, there are terrible things happening in the world and there always will be, so what can I do about it?” This attitude forces me to face the reality that there really are a lot of terrible things going on in the world, there always have been and always will be, as depressing as that is. People are right about that. But they’re wrong if they think it’s okay to not do anything about it, or to rely on another person, another country, another force to take care of Sudan and fix the problem.

I’ve always lived by the words, “If you’re not ticked off, you’re just not paying attention,” and people have a lot of excuses for not paying attention. Some people are too young to be burdened by such problems, too busy with their own lives and their own problems, not rich enough to donate money, not able to keep up with the news. If you are one of these people, get over it. It’s not that hard to care about an incredible wrong going on in the world, not that hard to be appalled when thousands of people are being murdered because of their beliefs, and not that hard to have moral standards.

Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize Winner and Holocaust survivor, once said, “To be silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.” If you refuse to stand up for what’s right, then you’re choosing to be wrong.

This Wednesday, I went to the Lincoln Theatre with Ms. Hawkesworth’s history class for a discussion on genocide with two survivors; one from Germany during the Holocaust, the other a man who fled from Sudan during the original civil war that took place there during the late 80’s and early 90’s. They spoke about their personal experiences and memories, what others were subjected to, and in the case of Darfur, are still being subjected to currently. Nearing the end, the man from Darfur, Omar Ismail, talked about what we as individuals could do. It’s not easy to help everyone and save a country all at once, he explained, but he told us we could help by caring and spreading the word, and when our children look back on what happened and ask us, “Where were you?” we can say we were there, paying attention and caring, and doing something about it.

Everyone is capable of caring, everyone can do something about it. Next year I plan to go to Africa to teach English to school children and work in orphanages, a good excuse to not go to college but still do something productive. Although I won’t be anywhere near Sudan or Darfur, and I won’t be saving people’s lives, every effort counts. Even if I only influence one child there, it still counts, and maybe that child will grow up to do something great for his or her country one day. But you don’t even have to do that much to be productive; you can simply acknowledge what is happening outside of your own life and genuinely care.

Although sometimes I’m disappointed and let down, I still believe that we can make a difference, and I still believe in the goodness of mankind. It’s hard sometimes, but I still believe. I may be idealistic, but I’m strong too, and this hippie won’t give up on saving the world. And neither should you.