Zeitoun Final Response

 

Life is not fair, and I have learned that life takes unexpected turns and unfortunately there is nothing one can do about it. At first Zeitoun believed that he was arrested for terrorism conspiracy, because the first thing that the soldier who arrested Zeitoun said was, '"You guys are al Qaeda,"' (Zeitoun 222). I could not imagine what it would be like to be called a terrorist, just because Zeitoun is Arab. If I were Zeitoun I would have lost all respect for my countries justice system, because all Zeitoun had done was rescue, and save lives. Zeitoun should be considered a hero, rather than a terrorist because all he has done was saved lives rather than taking lives. I believe that the soldiers are the people to blame, simply because they did nothing to help the citizens of New Orleans while they were in panic. The soldiers were not even stationed in New Orleans for several days after Katrina hit, which shows how much our government cares about their citizens. I believe our government could have gotten to New Orleans within a couple hours after the storm hit, instead it took sever days for the government to figure out the people of New Orleans needed help. When sent to jail Zeitoun was told to get undressed in order to be stripped searched, because they believed that had stolen items from stores in town. Zeitoun did not have anything on him beside some money that the soldiers thought he had stolen from a store. Zeitoun was sent to, "Angola, the country's largest prison, was built on an eighteen-thousand-acre former plantation once used for the breeding of slaves" (Zeitoun 320). I thought this was ironic, because our government once allowed slavery, as we know was beyond cruel, torturous, and inhuman and yet our government decides to build a prison. Prisons are supposed to rehabilitate those are treatable, and yet Angola was built on a plantation where racism was very prevalent. It makes no sense what so ever to build a prison on a once racist land. Zeitoun was be profiled left and right just because he was Arab, and thrown into a prison built on racism, but our government has not figured out that it is illegal to profile and assume one is a terrorist because he is Arab even after the Civil Rights Movement. I believe that the way that Zeitoun acted during his confrontation with the police, ultimately saved him and reduced the fines, because he did not act crazy and make a big seen. Zeitoun was able to keep his cool, because he knew that this was all a misunderstanding. In Angola Zeitoun was not being treated any better than he was outside, because the guards put him in solitary confinement, and refused to give him his phone call. Zeitoun lost all of his rights as a United States citizen while in prison, and was thought to be the worst of the worst, due to where he was being held in prison. If I were Zeitoun I would have sued the United States government for millions of dollars for putting him in jail for no reason. I really like this book, and thought it did a great job connecting to new and relevant topics that are occurring currently in our world. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about New Orleans, and our government because it goes into such depth. From this book I have learned that citizens legal rights are much different in other countries, and as Americans we need to utilize our rights in a way that can be identified in a peaceful manner. I have learned that depending on ones career and actions, one can be viewed to be many different things and most of the time they are all false due to misunderstandings and profiling. It is unacceptable and illegal to judge one based on their appearance, but unfortunately our government has not learned right from wrong yet. This book has made me hate our government, because from what I have learned our government set the people of the United States to fail, unless they obey specific rules and regulations.

Zeitoun Book Response

Once the book reached the climax I could not put it down because, there was so much going on with Zeitoun’s family, the thousands of displaced citizens, and the New Orleans as a whole. I was amazed how calm Zeitoun has remained throughout Hurricane Katrina, while being separated from his family and being detained by police. What amazed me the most was that at first the police were not doing anything to help the citizens while they were drowning in their own community, and then they decided to target the one man who was making a difference by rescuing anyone who needed help. What amazed me was that the police were looking for terrorists rather than trying to save the dying people of New Orleans. The police ended up arresting Zeitoun and two other Arab men, thinking they were part of Al Qaeda and yet during this ridiculous stereotyping Zeitoun was able to relax and hope this misunderstanding would be resolved soon. Zeitoun and Kathy, “Knew that many imaginations had run amok, that the introduction of the idea of ‘sleeper cells’ – groups of would-be terrorists living in the U.S. and waiting, for years or decades, to strike-meant that everyone at their mosque, or the entire mosque itself, might be waiting for instructions from their presumed leaders in the hills of Afghanistan or Pakistan” (Zeitoun 222-223).  If I were Zeitoun I would extremely mad and would yell at uneducated, un-helping, ignorant, worthless policy officers, which would escalate the situation and ultimately make the situation worse.  Zeitoun on the other hand was able to keep his cool, and understand where the police were coming from because he was an Arab man, but he was upset because he could have been saving more people’s lives during this time. From the beginning of the book Zeitoun had to be constantly active, and when he was arrested you could see him getting anxious to get out and help the people of New Orleans. Zeitoun himself was able to provide help and services to those who were unable to do anything due to the Hurricane. I choose to read this book, because I heard so many good reviews about it, and heard that this man should be awarded medals of Honor due to all the courageous acts he did for his country and his people. Zeitoun took the worst situation imaginable and turned it around using by using his resources, and by working with other individuals who had the same goals as him. Zeitoun should be a Darfur activist, because he is able to take a horrible situation and make the best from it. Throughout the book Zeitoun has only wanted to better his community and others around him, which is exactly the type of guy we need to help end the genocide in Darfur. In Saturday September 17, “Blackwater USA, a private security firm that employed former soldiers from the U.S. and elsewhere, had sent hundreds of personnel to the region. They were there in an official capacity, hired by the Department of Homeland Security to help maintain order” (Zeitoun 205). The police and other authorities seemed to be more focused on finding terrorists, rather than helping the citizens of New Orleans get to safety. When an uncontrollable disaster like Hurricane Katrina affects hundreds of thousands of people it is the governments job to protect the citizens have been affected, and make sure that their problems are eliminated. Our government as well as other countries truly did not understand the severity off the Hurricane, and decided to watch while thousands lost control. Nothing is real until it happens to one self, and I feel that Hurricane Katrina woke up our whole country because Katrina hit with great force with little notice. I feel that this is exactly what we need to do in Darfur, because if we attack the Sudanese government quickly and with no warning the rebels are not going to know what to do, and hopefully make them give in and end the genocide once and for all. In my opinion Katrina was a small genocide because the lack of effort demonstrated by our government ultimately killed innocent people. People could have been saved if there was more immediate action taken place. America is notorious for procrastinating and acting at the last minute, so do not hold your breath because you truly do not know when we will act.

Double Check

I felt the need to find specific information that should the Sudanese government breaking the law, by supoporting the Janjaweed or other rebel organizations.  I began to understand that the Sudanese government was has been caught purchasing weapons and other militarly equipment multiply times and also has been caught arming rebel groups. What I do not understand is how other countries can stand around and allow this type of behavior to occur right in front of their faces. There is documentation of the Sudanese government working against its own people and yet we allow the genocide to occurr. By not acting we are only making the situation in Darfur and Sudan worse. While researching I found an artilce called, Cyprus Intercepts Sudan Arms Ship, which was about how police caught a ship that was sailing to Sudan and then to Singapore. What amazed me was that this vessel was found and detained on June11, 2010, becasue this event occurred less than a year ago not even a year ago, which is clear evidence that the genocide is still occurring for those who do not believe it. While reading the article I read that, "A security source said authorities were investigating whether the cargo contravened a U.N. arms embargo on all armed groups operating in Sudan's Darfur region, the site of a seven-year conflict pitting government troops and allied militias rebel fighters" (Cyprus Intercepts Sudan Arms Ship). This vessel was found on June 11, 2010, containing military equipment, was essentail in saving citizens lives. Police investigated the situation and concluded that the armed ship was heading to Sudan. We need to cut off all supplies to Sudan and other parts of Africa who are known alliences with Sudan, in order to reduce the amount of military equipment, which would ultimitly reduce the amount of crime. There is so much corruption occurring right in front of our faces, which is why it is important to take the time and make sure that vessels and planes heading to Africa do not have any suplies that would prolong the gencide.

Make a Decision

I began looking into the all the different support groups that either aid Darfur from the United States, or have treatment facilities located in Darfur. I thought the only way to truly understand what these agencies are doing for the people of Darfur, I really needed to look into their company and see what their goals are for the country. I decided to watch multiple documentaries that showed different companies relief programs, as well as their treatment centers. It was depressing to watch these videos to be frankly honest, because these documentaries showed dead bodies, wounded, crippled, starving, and homeless children. Organizations like Save Darfur, the International Rescue Committee, and the Darfur Human Rights Organization are all organizations that are dedicated to saving the people in Darfur. One hundred percent of their proceeds go directly to their facilities located in Darfur, and other sister organizations. I decided to write a letter to the International Rescue Committee, because I felt the need to express my voice on the genocide in Darfur, and also to show that there are people who care about this issue. I was fortunate enough to receive a letter back from George Rupp the president of International Rescue Committee explaining what they have recently been doing, and what our government has been doing in Darfur. I was informed that, "After more than five years of passionate and immensely challenging work, the International Rescue Committee-IRC- was being expelled from Darfur by the Sudanese government. The government's actions came just hours after the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest for President Omar al-Bashir, charging him with crimes against humanity for the slaughter and suffering in Darfur” (George Rupp). I later learned that even though that the IRC was forced to leave Darfur, there plan on ending the genocide still remained in tack, and their beliefs are still just as strong. Despite being forced out of Darfur, the IRC has been delivering lifesavings support to thousands of displaced refugees in Chad. I believe that the expulsion of the International Rescue Committee, should evil within the Sudanese government, and also should that the Sudanese government is fearful of the power within these organizations. The organizations located within Darfur play a life-saving role to the sick, displaced, and dying victims of Darfur. The genocide is still currently taking place, and I could not imagine what Darfur would look like without these organizations. I have learned that getting permission to enter into Darfur is an extremely difficult and time consuming task, because the Sudanese government has strict regulations that restrict large groups from entering and helping the displaced citizens of Darfur. I still feel that our government needs to send more aid, because there is an endless line of victims who need aid of some sort. I do recognize the work that the United States government has put forth under the Sudanese government permission. Part of Darfur and Sudan are under the jurisdiction of United States law, which is believe is key to ending the genocide. I believe that instead of controlling parts of Darfur and Sudan, I think the United States government needs to invade and take control over the situation. This is easier said than done, but we are getting closer and closer to ending the genocide every day, and instead of prolonging the genocide we need to make a big decision and act on it.

Eight Years Later, Hundreds of Thousands Dead

There is no denying the genocide in Darfur and Sudan, and yet, I truly hope that our government, and the people of the United States decides to step up and make a difference in Darfur, because we cannot just sit around and watch innocent people be murdered. The genocide began in early 2003, and yet our government waited a whole year in order to make sure that the Sudanese government was actually mass murdering their citizens. What I do not understand is why the our government decided to wait until 2004 to, "Charged Sudan with genocide - the first time a government has made such an accusation at another government since the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide was adopted in 1948" (ADL Darfur Resource Center). As a citizen of the United States I would think that our government would have learned from past experiences, and would have changed. Due to our government's procrastination hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens have died, millions have been displaced, and an, "Estimated 3.5 million people afflicted by the crisis are suffering from hunger" (ADL Darfur Resource Center). Our government should have acted, and ended the genocide in 2003 right when it started, in order to eliminate progression, but now eight years later advancement within the Janjaweed and other rebel groups have taken place making the genocide much harder to stop. I'm not trying to diminish our government actions because the citizens of Darfur and Sudan need all the help they can get, but I believe that our government needs send more aid, because our current actions are not working, which means we need to develop new ideas. I was reading a short story called Bush Pigs by Richard Dooling, and I was blown away by one of his comments which was, "The U.S. Government sent me to Sierra Leone to help starving Africans, but at least half the time, the starving Africans took care of me" (Richard Dooling). Based on my observations on the documentaries i have watched, I have learned that the citizens of Darfur and Sudan are extremely grateful for food, water, clothes, toys, and other basic essential items, which we take for granted in America. I found this quote interesting because it shows how we as Americans are not doing much to help these people, and yet when we travel to Africa in order to help them they are the ones who are helping us. Our government needs to develop new tactics in order to better support the victims of Darfur and Sudan. Getting involved is easy, and it makes a huge difference in the long run. You can write a letter to President Obama, pressure the government of Sudan to allow humanitarian relief to reach all affected people in Darfur, or simply contact your local newspaper and television stations. Make donations and publicize this genocide as much as possible in order to inform the uninformed people, because every contribution makes a difference to the people in Darfur and Sudan. Every day another life is lost, thousands are displaced, and many die from dieses and hunger, so I challenge all of you to get involved and end the genocide.   

Support, Support, Support

After watching Emergency in Darfur Part 1- Crisis, I was able to understand how the displaced citizens of Darfur receive aid. While watching this film, I was shocked to see the displacement camps, where thousands of refugees are forced to live in, because the rebels burned down their old villages. The crisis is not getting any better, and the children of Darfur are getting ill due to the lack of food, water, shelter, medicine, and because the people are prone to dieses. Women are often obducted and rapped, when the rebels invade. I learned that the International Medical Core or IMC is an American humanitarian aid organization, which focuses on training local villagers ways to remain healthy, and to be self-reliant. The international Medical core specializes in treating children under the age of five, and woman of all ages, in order to make sure that the villagers are healthy, while living under these horrible circumstances. I learned that there are medical facilities located in western and northern Darfur, but due to severity of the genocide the facilities are unable to help everyone. During the film there was a short interview on Jill John-Kall, who had previously worked in Uganda, and Chad, and began working in Darfur in 2005 as a field medical coordinator, and  two years later in 2007 she became medical director for International Medical Core in Darfur.  IMC provides medical kits, free medicine, and many other services in order to help victims of the genocide. What amazes me is how the children of Darfur are able to remain so strong after all that has happened to them, and still be able to have fun and faith. Instead of letting the genocide get worse, I suggest that we as Americans get involved, because our government is know to procrastinate. As citizens we need to get active, and generate awarness among our communities, and work places in order to help support the genocide. Design a campaign, and raise money with friends and family for a specific charity or the International Medical Core and make a difference.

Zeitoun Book Response

As I continue to read Zeitoun, the more I learn about Hurricane Katrina because, I'm getting an inside view on what actually happened to many families. I feel by reading about one families experiences with Hurricane Katrina I'm able to understand how Katrina effected others. Reading this book has allowed me to understand how Katrina affected others who did not live in New Orleans, but had family there. I feel that Zeitoun does a great job of explaining what a typical family experienced during Katrina, because this story takes place during Hurricane Katrina, and showed what Zeitoun, physically and mentally while staying back in New Orleans, and what he did in order to make the situation better. One of the soldiers yelled, '"We can't help you,' he said. Go to St. Charles," (Zeitoun 144) which does not surprise me because according to the videos we watched in class, and the United States did not do squat to help the victims of Katrina. Zeitoun was wondering, "What were they doing in the city, if not helping evacuate people?" (Zeitoun 144). Zeitoun experienced negligence from our government, while he was trying to get help for other citizens who needed the help more than he did. I find it shameful that a single man was capable of helping more people than our government, because it is our governments duty to aid people who are in need, rather than watch them die. Zeitoun decided to be different and go out of his way, and help the helpless, because he realized that nothing was being done by the government, and he felt that he must take matters into his own hands. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to be in Zeitoun's shoes, having to leave his family and watch his home be destroyed. It was the pastor who. "Expressed confidence that help was still on its way, but Zeitoun didn't want to take any chances" (Zeitoun 147). Zeitoun was thinking and acting logically because he knew that it was unrealistic that help would arrive any time soon, if the soldier’s in his neighborhood were telling him to go to St. Charles, in order to seek help. Zeitoun realized that his best chance at survival was to look out for himself and help others during the process. This book has only made me more disappointed with our government because of the lack of help, and due to the way our government treated its citizens. Our government needs to get their priorities straight, and realize that the citizens of the United States come first.