Just wanted to share this...

I get google alerts on a number of different topics; one of them is "genocide."  A google alert is a daily email, on a topic you've choosen, that collects references and links whenever (or often when) your selected topic (keyword) appears in the web title of articles, blogs, videos, etc.  A couple days ago, the notice I got included this headline and link:

Lack Of Media Interest Makes Genocide Cover-Up Unnecessary ...
AFMADOW, SOMALIA—Utter global disinterest in the wholesale slaughter of 250000 ethnic Bajuni people this week has caused Somali warlord Maj.
www.theonion.com/.../lack-of-media-interest-makes-genocide-...

At first I wasn't sure what to make of it, but when I realized it was from The Onion, I decided to spend my time looking at other links. I usually find The Onion funny, but I couldn't imagine even they could make anything having to do with genocide humorous.  

Then yesterday, this came in my Google Alert email for genocide:

Onion article about genocide doesn't make us laugh
Washington Post (blog)
A story, today, does just that, under the headline “Lack of media interest makes genocide cover-up unnecessary.” Utter global disinterest in the wholesale slaughter of 250000 ethnic Bajuni people this week has caused Somali warlord Maj. ...

This one I decided to look at.  And I'm glad I did. It points to the importance of the work that One Million Bones is doing to bring attention to genocides, atrocities and humanitarian crises, work that the media should be doing a better job with, and that all of us should be paying more attention to.  

There's a Chinese proverb that says, "The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago.  The second best time is today."  That's how I feel about making the changes we need in order to create a citizenry that's educated about issues and activated to use their freedoms to support a better world and a better life for everyone.  The best time to have started that work was years ago, but the second best time is today.

Your participation in the One Million Bones project is vital, and we appreciate your support of the work of making those changes.

Comments

[inspirasicyber]

i just can praise from my home..hope them get sufficient food, water and medicine...thank because share this thing...

[Hiiraan Report Guy]

Read the very short report at theonion and couldn't help but to deeply reflect . Its in our human nature to care and be compassionate but on the other hand how could you care when it seems like they don't care. what makes it more difficult is the farther away from home it is, the higher the death toll rises, the less personal it becomes. A very sad thing indeed.

[Tom]

While The Onion may border on distasteful in some regards (yesterdays twitter Congressional Hostage situation as an example) it is a satire. One that through its sometimes offense language does shine light in a poignant way. Satire is not always humorous. And really, by shedding light on this topic in a way that enlightens people to the general disinterest of the media in all things genocide, perhaps that isn't a bad thing.

We should not laugh at genocide. But really, isn't it "funny" (as in strange) that genocide is ignored?