I recently received an amazing opportunity and even more amazing honor, I was accepted into the Carl Wilken's Fellowship by the Genocide Intervention Network. This years new fellows numbers only 18 so I am humbled by this opportunity to learn from some amazing anti genocide activists and to be included in their ranks.
Image via Wikipedia
If you don't know who Carl Wilkens is then you should look him up. The man is hero and a shinning example of what it means to be selfless. During the Rwanda Genocide Mr. Wilkens opted to stay behind instead of leaving with his family. Mr. Wilkens saved countless lives during those days and I am humbled to be a part of the organization bearing his name. But I must admit I am bit nervous as well.
I have often described the "light turning off in their eyes" when the topic of genocide or Darfur comes up with other people and when I say that I see that light go out I literally mean I see it. This is the most frustrating part of activism for me and from what I can tell its the leading reason why people just give up and throw in the towel. If no one else is going to care then why should I continue to waste my time.
This is something that crosses my mind about as often as eating vegetables with dinner crosses the mind of my 17 year old son, rarely. But I would be lying if I told you that doubt and intimidation don't rear their ugly heads from time to time. But now that I am a member of the this fellowship I am coming to realize that I am not alone in this struggle. That support network is the main reason that I applied for this fellowship and I am so very looking forward to utilizing it.
I have said it more then once before and I will die screaming it from the roof tops, the true cause of crimes like genocide is simple, it's apathy. Apathy not only allows the perpetrators to disassociate themselves from their victims, it allows the international community, the bystanders if you will, to turn their heads and act powerless. The very fact that the vast majority of the international community can look away while millions are killed is the only direct indication that one needs to see that apathy has set its roots deep within our society. And it is this apathy that we activists fight everyday. And believe me when I tell you, its a lonely uphill fight.
I like to think that I help unravel the tangled web of this conflict for the common reader, that help distinguish the x's and the O's. Seeing as the Darfur conflict is filled with so many interlacing components there is much to explain and write about. And now I know that there are a lot of people to write about it. I know that I now more then every I am not alone in my efforts. And that is why I would like to share my venue with them, allow them to tell their their stories and speak their minds.
I am opening the door to my fellow Carl Wilkens Fellows, of 2009 and 2010, and I am hoping to spot light a fellow fellow at least once a month and share with everyone what they have done, are doing, and their personal journey along the way.
It is important that we open the door of dialogue to each other, that we share our stories and experience so we not just better understand the genocide in Darfur or genocide as a whole but to better understand each other and how we can all help one another.
Thank you.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_a.png?x-id=4a0874aa-6aba-4a37-bb5f-7031b57b8a39)
