Public Comment

When the Democrats obtained a congressional majority in November’s midterm elections, it sent a message to the White House, and to all of America, that people are ready for change. Change in Iraq, change in the power of the presidency, change in foreign policy, and change in the way citizens are treated at home. But, in the throws of such a heated election, at least one important issue was left largely unaddressed—what America’s role should be in quelling the genocide in Darfur.  

As hundreds of thousands of refugees struggle to survive, time is running out for the American government to get serious about Darfur, and it is imperative that the American people themselves catalyze Washington to take on this effort.  

When the Democrats took office Jan. 4, they outlined a grueling agenda for the first few weeks of the new congress. But with a disaster to clean up in Iraq, a Social Security crisis to fix, and relations with several key nations to repair, the plight of a far off African nation seems to fall by the wayside in congress. It is not that American politicians don’t care or want to help, but the nation’s plate is quite full already, and policy makers prefer to focus on issues that will make an impact on their constituents. In the game of American politics, reelection is always a top priority, even the week after a new congress is inaugurated. Office holders need to be able to show voters that they are making positive changes on the voter’s behalf, and no matter how you look at it, Darfur policy doesn’t fit this mold.  

Politicians will take on such an issue, however, if their constituents coax them to do so. Thus, it is crucial that voters urge both their congresspeople and senators to put the Darfur issue on the agenda.  

Berkeleyans can be a pioneering force in this effort. Taking a step in this direction, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who has consistently pressed for congressional action in Darfur since the genocide began in 2003, introduced a resolution urging the League of Arab States to acknowledge the Sudanese genocide on the first day of the new congress.  

But Lee cannot single handedly make Darfur a top congressional priority. Our politicians cannot make headway on this issue unless we encourage such efforts. While it is easy to reprimand Congress for failing to place humanity before politics, it is far more difficult to admit the fault in oneself. The old cliché is true: unless an individual is actively doing his part, he is a part of the problem.  

Californians have a commendable track record when it comes to Darfur activism. Last summer, a Darfur awareness march was held in San Francisco. Students at California colleges and universities have worked tirelessly to bring awareness and aid to the Darfur crisis, and have the potential to invoke even more action.  

As a student at Pomona College, in Claremont, California, I have been both invigorated and disheartened by on campus Darfur activism. Many students have taken the responsibility to stay informed and raise money and awareness for Darfurian refugees, and hundreds of letters have been signed and sent to the White House. But as life goes on normally each day, I cannot help but feel that we should be doing more. If students can become educated and inspired to mobilize their local communities, groups of voters around the country can begin urging their representatives to take on Darfur. Similarly, if California residents can motivate their elected officials to put Darfur on the congressional agenda, other states may lead by example. A grassroots movement of this kind would be an effective way to get Washington to take serious action. 

America, of course, is not, and should not be solely responsible for the Darfur effort. As a world power however, the U.S. has a responsibility to lead in this endeavor, and in order to be effective, our policy makers must be at the forefront of the effort. 

At a rally for Darfur in Washington, D.C. earlier this year, Samantha Powers, Harvard professor and leading thinker and activist on human rights policy, said, “Some people think that the politicians are the leaders, but the people are the leaders. If you keep leading, we will keep following.”  

No statement could better capture the stance that we, as voters, as global citizens must take; if we lead, we can get our congressional leaders—and hopefully our president—to follow. And together, we can work towards policy and change. 

Rachel Hamburg is an Oakland resident and a student at Pomona College.