Why is it that America is so keen on restoring democracy only when it benefits us? How can we pick and choose when we decide to become the moral police? Why do we have unending American troops in gas-rich countries where we are trying to “champion democracy” and yet we ignore the atrocities happening in Zimbabwe? Why is genocide, tyranny, terrorism, and evil accepted in African nations, and squelched immediately in countries that have something we want?
We have been to Zimbabwe and the people are amazing, but they have so little opportunity because of the government there. This country is flailing because of an evil dictator. I want to know when he will be stopped. I want to know why the USA has put on their “earmuffs” when it comes to Zimbabwe.
In case you can’t tell, I’m a little riled up about it. If you think of it, pray for the people in Zimabwe today.
Amen!
Er, *blush* I live in a hole. What is happening in Zimbabwe? Georgia and Darfur, I am loosely familiar with, but about Zimbabwe I haven’t a clue. Can you enlighten me? 🙂
I know you are a reader so I have a book suggestion: A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide by Samantha Powers. It is readable, informative, and completely maddening. It won a Pultize Prize (I think in 97). It’s dated in that it doesn’t cover Sudan. It is well worth the read (I’m about 3/4 of the way through).
I’ll send it to you when I’m done if you are interested.
Mugabe is an evil and paranoid old douche bag. (The leaders of China and Russia are douche bags too for vetoing the UN resolution to apply sanctions against Zimbabwe.)
And you are so right about our selective, self-serving foreign policy. Especially when we tout all our “humanitarian intervention” as being “moral.” All the money and resources (not to mention lives) we’ve wasted in Iraq has left the U.S. almost powerless to combat the tyranny of these mad dictators.
I think the American public’s apathy about our government’s dealings with other countries is almost unconscionable. Rather than be uncomfortable with the knowledge of what’s going on in the world many Americans live with their heads in the sand. Ignorance is bliss I guess. I swear, I think daily reading of a national or international newspaper should be required for anyone who votes.
If anyone one wants to find out something about Zimbabwe, or any other embattled region, a good place to start is an online news source like the New York Times ( http://www.nytimes.com ). Just type in Zimbabwe (or Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo or Somalia or Rwanda or Sierra Leone or Haiti or Myanmar…) in the search engine, then click on “Times Topics: Zimbabwe” it’ll take you to a page showing general information and the latest news articles concerning the country. And, it’s free!
And, there’s the Christian Science Monitor ( http://www.csmonitor.com ), and BBC ( http://www.bbc.co.uk ), also FREE!
Boy, sorry for the RANT :/
Yeah, Gina kind of hit it on the head. Mugabe is this bully of a dictator who is using brute force to stay in power, despite the fact that the people want him out. He takes whatever he wants and gives it to whoever supports him. There is very little coverage of the whole thing in American media. So don’t feel like you are living in a hole if you haven’t seen it on the evening news!
Yeah, Diane, send that book my way. Sounds good.
I have asked this question so many times. 🙁