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.