Make Some Noise for Darfur!

Let's cut the context.* Last night I was reminiscing about my high school years. The first time I had heard about Darfur was from a bunch of colorful stickers stuck all over the walls of the penitentiary. The stickers merely said, "Make Some Noise for Darfur." Not knowing at all that Darfur is a region in Africa and there is a terrible genocide occurring, I thought that Darfur was a heavy metal band. I've heard of making noise for the local sports team or for a performing musician, but never have I heard of making noise to help an oppressed region across the world. Although I take the genocide itself seriously, I have to question the mental acumen put into stickers that would much more appropriately be screamed by an enthusiastic announcer at a rock show.

Although many people are actively supporting the people in Darfur, there are many people who only claim to want to "save Darfur." The people I speak of are the people who see Darfur as being trendy to mourn and they are the people that make Darfur almost seem like a joke. I won't deny that I own and regularly wear a shirt that has the phrase "Save Darfur" inside the outline of a whale. I do this because it is pointing out the ignorance of my fellow 'murkans who don't know anything about Darfur yet treat it as if it personally affects their own life. In addition, many of these Darfur supporters can't locate Darfur on a map.

What the world really needs is not for noise to be made. Noise is vague enough that it can include beautiful music, begrudged moaning, voice-cracking whiny teenagers, and empty and meaningless screams. What Darfur really needs is dedicated, knowledgable supporters who know exactly what the conflict is, where it is occurring, and have a chance of helping the people who are suffering constantly. We do need to save Darfur, not just say we should. Actions speak louder than words.

*The context to me thinking about Darfur was the legendary comedy of the bright up-and-coming new comedian RAAAAAAAANDY!