If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength being small; if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death, those who go staggering to the slaughter; if you say, “Look, we did not know this” – does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will he not repay all according to their deeds?Proverbs 24:10-12 (NRSV)
Last week, two events ironically coincided – the 5th anniversary of the genocide in Darfur and Pope Benedict’s address to the United Nations in which he honored and celebrated the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, an amazing affirmation passed in 1948 that set the standard for how we should treat each other.
In the aftermath of the almost inconceivable madness of World War II, during which some 40-50 million people were killed (no one will ever know for sure the exact number), the global community said “no more” to the wholesale slaughter of innocents. Then came Cambodia. Then came Bosnia. Then came Rwanda.
And then 5 years ago, innocents began being slaughtered in the Darfur region of Sudan. Article 3 of the Declaration affirms that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.” For five years now, the world community has watched in horror as the government of Sudan has made of mockery of these fundamental rights. (By the way, I highly recommend the reading of the entire Declaration, which can be found by clicking here.)
You are probably familiar with the numbers – over 450,000 dead, up to 3 million displaced, 3.5 million more dependent upon international aid for basic survival needs. (Check out this powerful clip for a quick overview.) This Sunday, Arapaho will host a Save Darfur Rally and Prayer Service for the second straight year. We will show the powerful documentary The Devil Came On Horseback, we will pray together, we will offer opportunities for activism, and raise money for Darfur relief. I hope you will join us on Sunday. God willing, a third annual Save Darfur rally won’t be necessary.