HOPE is a Four Letter Word

The past couple weeks have been rather busy for me. With the Armenian Genocide March through Hollywood on April 24th coming up, I have given more and more thought to genocide. I did write an extensive paper on the topic some years ago while still in school (which I have referenced in this blog), but writing about it is one thing; hearing people’s testimonies to it and contemplating in depth the current genocide happening right now in Darfur, Sudan is another. To me, genocide is the most atrocious human act that could ever be committed.

The thought of it knocks the very breath out of me and makes me want to vomit. I hate to be so blunt, but, I think, if anyone were really honest with themselves, they would feel the same way. Many people know about some of the genocides in history, but perhaps only the most publicized ones. The fact is, there have been too many genocides, and why do they continue to happen?Genocide is often due to a complex web of issues. There are usually stages to the development of a ‘target group’ for genocide. The first stage is classification, or categorizing or distinguishing people from “us” by ethnicity, race, religion or nationality. The second stage is symbolization, or giving names or other symbols to the classifications, like “Jews” or “Gypsies,” or distinguishing people by the way they dress, and applying them to members of groups. The third stage is dehumanization, when one group denies the humanity of another group. Members of the targeted group could be regarded as insects, animals, vermin, or diseases. The fourth stage is organization, as genocide is usually organized by the state, though sometimes informally, or by certain terrorist groups. The fifth stage is polarization, as extremists drive the groups apart, propaganda is used to brainwash, and often intermarriage or social interaction is forbidden. Identification is the sixth stage, when the target group is identified and separated out because of the their ethnic or religious identity. Death lists are often drawn up. The target group is often forced to wear identifying symbols, or carry identification papers. The group is often segregated into ghettos, concentration camps, or forced to live in areas where the land is poor and the food provisions are scarce. The seventh stage is extermination. Genocide happens when the killers do not fully believe the victims to be fully human. When the genocide is sponsored by the state, the armed forces work with the militia to exterminate. The eighth stage is denial. This stage usually follows genocide. It is an indicator that genocide will most likely occur again. The perpetrators prepare mass graves, burn bodies, generally try to cover up the evidence, and intimidate witnesses. They often deny the genocide, and blame the event on the victims. Investigations to the murders are usually blocked, or evidence is skewed.On the surface level, the causes for genocide are discrimination over ethnicity, race, religion or nationality, yet the problem is usually much more deep-rooted. It is quite important to understand these ‘below the surface’ historical issues, so that the issue can be dealt with appropriately, starting the reconciliation process by healing old, perhaps even forgotten wounds that have never been healed, but carried over generations.Civil society involves peoples of all races and ethnicities, and all creeds. It is therefore necessary that Christianity and other world religions must be present and open to all that it encounters on its journey of service in such a dynamic world. As Christians, we should know that we are called to be like the salt of the earth and to be a light in the darkness of confusion and turmoil, and loving and serving one another is of utmost importance. It is in this vein that we understand the importance of human rights for ourselves and for our neighbors, which the Bible also gives comment to: You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.[2] We are therefore required to be in relationship with other humans, from all walks of life. Individuals are central figures, but these individuals are not isolated beings; they are pictured in relationship with others in structural/institutional ways. Neither individuals nor institutions can be appreciated and understood independently of each other. Individuals become who they are—they discover and create their identities—in relationships and through institutions. Such nurturing, identity-forming institutions are essential to a good society…”[3]Because ‘civil society’ may mean something different in various parts of the world, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was designed by members of the United Nations to provide a general grounding of human rights for all nations and cultures. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was voted on and adopted by the international community in December 1948. It advocates for basic human rights for all peoples of the world, as it promotes the freedom, dignity, life, and security of all, among other important rights and freedoms. It presumably protests against any form of genocide—in general, it protects against arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.[4] Inter-religious collaboration is necessary to a healthy restoration of society, because religion meets the moral and spiritual needs of the people in conflict, bringing age-old traditions and reconciling practices to the forefront. Essentially, religion addresses the fundamental meaning of human life.[5] Ideally, religious groups can act as ‘safe’ and trusted mediators in the conflict resolution process. For example, Religions for Peace is the world’s largest coalition committed to common action, that of addressing a problem, healing and reconciliation.[6] Religions for Peace acts on the ground that “no faith acting alone can address today’s global challenges. Religious communities are advancing their own form of multilateralism through effective cooperation on critical global problems.”[7] Religious organizations are capable of raising a heightened awareness of critical issues, so action can be taken before the conflict grows. Inter-religious dialogue can promote education or conscientization of the issue at hand, advocacy for the oppressed, mediation, and reconciliation and social reconstruction.[8] The Secretary General of Religions for Peace, Dr. William F. Vendley, notes that

overall,…inter-religious cooperation provides a huge moral coalition for needed change where there are unjust political, economic, and social relations. Religious leaders working to transform conflict are strengthened by joining their efforts with those of religious leaders of different faiths. Every time that religions work together for peace, they demonstrate the true nature of their faith communities. They affirm that religion need not be part of the problem, and that religion must be part of the solution.[9]

Clearly, we have a role and responsibility as people of a faith community. But we always have to remember what we have faith in. Which leads me to two meetings that I had in the past two weeks: one with an inspirational and lively fellow, Phil Daman, the Chief Operating Officer for HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere). I wanted to meet with HOPE because I attended the City of Angeles Film Festival last fall in Los Angeles, and saw a documentary film about the Darfur Genocide, “The Devil Came on Horseback.” After the film, there were various booths set up in the hallway of the venue, and HOPE was there, selling T-shirts with images taken of victims of the genocide. The profits from the sale of the shirts go back to Darfur, to use toward relief efforts. HOPE Artists is a humanitarian organization focused on raising awareness and funds for pressing issues and is committed to green, energy conscious and resourceful business practices. They do this by empowering individuals to be involved in humanitarian causes through creative events, art, music, physical wellness & action.

The HOPE Campaign is bringing the humanitarian crisis in Darfur to the forefront of the media by raising awareness through the creative class and developing artistic projects and funds to help genocide survivors rebuild their lives.

With the help of Shepard Fairey, Brian Steidle, HOPE Artists, Studio Number One, OBEY Clothing, SPIN, LA Darfur Observance Day, DeepMix, AJC, myspace.com, Great American Volleyball, The Grain Collective, Team Darfur, TRACE, SWINDLE and many other groups this campaign has brought awareness to over 10 million people and funded new programs for the selected Darfur NGO, Global Grassroots. HOPE’s goal is to bring HOPE to the people through knowledge that the outside world knows and cares about what is happening in Darfur.

The second meeting that I had was with Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein, the leader of the Social Action Committee at the Wilshire Boulevard Jewish Temple. About a year and a half ago, I attended a special event at the Temple that was a screening of the film, “Sand and Sorrow,” another documentary about the genocide in Darfur. I was very impressed with how their Temple presented the film, as well as had additional opportunities to help spread the message. They are well connected with major organizations that provide resources for refugees and victims. Primarily, I wanted to connect with Rabbi Stein to introduce our church as a community partner in social justice issues, yet also to glean additional insights at to how I could perhaps promote a genocide awareness event at our church.

Now that I have met with these inspirational forces in our local Los Angeles community, I am faced with the task of discerning what to do next. My title for this blog is “HOPE is a Four Letter Word.” Hope can be a dangerous concept for some–for governments that are trying to control people, and want to distinguish any flames of hope in people’s hearts that want freedom of some kind. Yes, in this vein, the word hope can invoke fear and hate in the hearts of those in power, as they may try anything to keep people hopeless. To many, it is a foul, empty word, deplete of a tangible promise; perhaps only signifying a shadow of a promise, with no concrete, guaranteed result. Yes, only having hope can feel that way at times. And yet, sometimes that is all we can have. Right now, there are women and men and little children in Darfur with no families left who only have hope to hold onto. So, the word hope is really a double-edged sword. It is a threatening concept to some, indeed, and yet, it is also pregnant with possibilities of freedom, redemption and promise; a new order of things, the possibility of a whole new reality, a break from the old and the past, a rebirth–how can we live without hope!? As people of a faith community, I would “hope” that our hope is grounded in the faith of a higher order of what life is all about, and a love that knows no boundaries. So, for us, it should be faith, hope and love combined. These three ingredients are necessary for true belief in hope, which is a loaded word, like love–not empty at all. And this rings a bell, doesn’t it? I will leave you with this.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

4) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 ) Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10) but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11) When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12) For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

13) But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

–Valerie, Peace & Justice Committee

SPEAK OUT! Two places to have your voice heard:

http://www.darfurgenocide.org/petitions.php and http://www.savedarfur.org/contentLEARN MORE Save Darfur and Darfur: A Genocide We Can StopGo to the Jewish World Watch website for Ways to Give. Click on the links below to find out more on how you can help:http://www.enoughproject.org/reports/creatingpeacedarfur http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=77482

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7309596.stm

This entry was posted on April, 11 2008 at 14:28 and is filed under Peace & Justice Committee, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.