Final Run

Well it's the week before presentations and I feel like I should inform you all of my progress with the distributing of the bracelets and my presentation.

So far I have raised $190 by selling the bracelets to teachers, students, friends, and family. I was running low on wristbands to make, so I ordered another pack of 25 bands and I received them on Tuesday for the third of the school's staff that I am presenting to. I expect to have all of them ready for the arts festival and presentation on Wednesday.

For the actual presentation, I will give background on the genocide in Darfur, the death toll, and ways of giving. That will be followed up by a power point presentation, which will show some of the many different people who bought my bracelets and I will also talk about my reasons for creating the fund, and how I plan on continuing to sell bracelets and give money to support the people of Darfur. At the end of the presentation I will talk about the fund I am giving the money to, and how I believe they are reliable.

If anyone has any suggestions for my presentation, feel free to leave a comment.

Perpetrators, Bystanders, Victims, and Heroes

Today in class, we discussed "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," and how the people from the short story are either perpetrators, bystanders, or heroes. We came to the conclusion that all of the people, other than the one child, is a perpetrator, in that, they all benefit from the child's suffering.

I was wondering how I could relate the three positions to Darfur. Obviously the militia known as the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government would be the people perpetrating the genocide, and the people native Darfur, or the non-Baggara people would be the victims of hundreds of thousands of senseless murders. But my question is, what is our societies role in this conflict? Are we perpetrators by letting the genocide continue? Are we the bystanders? Or can we become heroes?

I would like to think that we are not the perpetrators. But I feel that there are nations, like China and Russia, that are supporting Sudan by supporting there economy by buying natural resources that are available in Sudan, and in effect supporting the genocide.

I do believe, that this nation's current position is being the bystander. A bystander is defined as being someone that is present at an event but does not take part. Since we are neither adding nor subtracting from the situation we can be labeled as bystanders.

Right now, I think no specific nation is a hero, other than Chad and the United Nations. For one to be a hero in this situation , one can give money to give aid and support, raise awareness, and even right letters to the president.

Feel free to answer any of the posed questions from before.

Viewers Experience Description

It was nine o'clock in the morning on a Saturday, and Alan was going to Starbucks, on 67th and Columbus Avenue, for his morning cup of Joe. While he was crossing Broadway and 67th street he noticed that in front of the Gap there was a small stand with a board saying "Save Two Million," and by its side was a teenager looking to be about fourteen or fifteen, with what looked to be leather wristbands. Alan, being the curious fellow he wondered, Save two million what? Dollars? Kittens? When Alan had the green light, he crossed still questioning himself about the subject of the board. At first, he thought that it was some sort of cheap way of making money, and walked passed the teenager.

He walked down the block to the packed Starbucks. While waiting in line he noticed that the woman in front of him was wearing what looked to be like what the teenager around the corner was selling. Alan tapped the woman in front of him and asked,
"Excuse me, may I ask you where you got that leather bracelet from?"
"Sure, I bought it from the teenager in front of the Gap, it's for an amazing cause and it really helps people. You should talk to him about it."
"Thanks, I'll do that," Alan said.

Once he got his tall sized cup of iced caramel macchiato he walked back around the corner and saw that the teenager was still there. Alan walked up to him and said "Someone told me a little bit about what your selling and recommended that I should talk to you." The teen smiled and introduced himself as Chris with a firm handshake.
"Well Chris, first things first, what does the 'Save Two Million,' mean?"
"It is a request to save the lives of the remaining two million Darfurian people."
"Darfur? I apologize if I am not completely understanding what this is for."
Chris went on to describe the senseless murders that are taking place and explain what is happening in the region in Sudan known as Darfur. Alan, with his newfound knowledge, was shocked and disgusted that a genocide could occur without any government response. Chris mentioned that his goals were to raise awareness and raise money to give to a fund that gives aid and support to the innocent people of Darfur.
"I have a couple questions. For one, how did you make them?"
"I hand made each one."
"Well Chris, what you're doing is very admirable and I applaud it."
"Thank you, what did you say your name was?"
"Alan."
"Well Thank you Alan, I appreciate it."
"So how much?"
"Five dollars."
"I don't think I could have spent five dollars any better."
"Have a good one."
"You too, Chris."