Guest Blog

One Million Bones has five terrific interns working with us: Santana, Squirral, Risa, Miranda and Brendan.  They come to us from Amy Biehl High School and each brings unique and wonderful talents to the work.

Today, we're featuring a blog written by Brendan which he wrote in response to the question,  "why do you think the work of One Million Bones is important?"

We'll be sharing more insights from our interns over the next few months.

"Why Spread Awareness of Genocide?

by Brendan Donohoe

There exist a great many debates around the world.  However, while such trivial topics as political slander are strained to their breaking point, one issue remains virtually untouched by the western world.  Even more remarkably, this issue is one that ravages countless individuals and societies each day, and one that shows no signs of yielding its march of destruction.  This monster is known as genocide.  Webster's Dictionary defines genocide as "the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group".  To eastern societies such as the Republic of Congo, this definition is common knowledge as humans, particularly those who continue to actively experience the pain of losing their friends, their parents, their siblings, and their children to those who deem themselves "superior", and use this broken reasoning to justify their massacre of the group referred to as "inferior".  Indeed, genocide is a manmade tool of destruction, used by humans to decimate once-proud societies.

Yet, surprisingly, not many are aware of the pain, destruction, sorrow, and death that genocide brings to a population.  If one is blind to an issue, how can it be fought, let alone stopped?  Interestingly, a large portion of the United States, though quick to commit itself to its own priorities and concerns, seems to remain oblivious to the agony around them.  If this pattern continues, countries such as the Republic of Congo will not sustain themselves much longer, for a blind world's wounds never heal, but, without treatment, worsen.  

This is why I believe that action must be taken now.  Each second we delay ourselves, another dies.  As humans, I believe that we must come to the aid of our brothers and sisters braving these difficult times, who, each waking day, attempt to fend not only for themselves, but those they love.  But, in spite of this effort on their behalf, some 5.4 million people have been killed since the first outbreak of fighting in Congo (and, also notably, 47% of these deaths were those of children), a fact which has led this event to be referred to as the world's deadliest conflict since World War II.  And, at a steady rate of 45,000 deaths per month, it shows no signs of ceasing.  This is why I believe awareness of these events must be spread, so that, not just as a country, but as humanity, we can recognize this problem, and thus, begin our work to end the destruction of so many lives."

See you all here, on Friday.

Comments

[Marc Azada]

I think that the work of One Million Bones is important. Everything has its purpose, and i guess this topic has a greater one. Being able to share this blog is one great achievement.Great job on this one!

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