"We Document What We Do Not Stop:" Richard Just on Darfur
I'm a bit
behind in my reading, and have only just now had a chance to read Richard
Just's devastating cover story in the 8/27/08 issue of the New Republic, "The
Truth Will Not Set You Free: Everything we know about Darfur, and everything
we're not doing about it."
Just's essay
is an extended review of ten recent books about conflict in Darfur - histories,
reporting on recent diplomatic activities, and memoirs. Although he offers a valuable review of the
large and growing literature his main point, made none too subtlety, is this:
"the sheer volume of historical, anthropological, and
narrative detail available to public about the genocide [in Darfur] is staggering. In the case of genocide in Darfur, ignorance
has never been possible. But the genocide
continues. We document what we do not
stop. The truth does not set anybody
free."
Just writes
quite interestingly about the Save Darfur "Movement," giving it credit for
sparking a new wave of activism in America and around the world. He also offers this powerful critique of the activists
(including, I suppose, our own work):
"It is not enough for a constituency demand that the
government act. It must be willing to
demand that the government act in ways that will actually stop the
killing. It must be willing to support the use of power." (Emphasis in original)
This is
essential reading, especially for those like me, who thought that we understood
the magnitude of the tragedy. Just shows
us exactly how wrong we were.






