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DISCIPLES JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK
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A Voice for Justice in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
DJAN is a multi-racial grassroots network of individuals, congregations, and organizations within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), all working together for greater justice and peace in our church, our nation, and our world. |
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A LETTER TO CONGRESS: RELIGIOUS LEADERS URGE CONGRESS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON DARFUR
November 9, 2005
Dear Member of Congress,
More than one year ago, on July 23, 2004, you and your colleagues declared that the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan was genocide. We applaud you for taking the bold action of officially recognizing the ongoing crisis for what it is: the very worst crime against humanity. However, the recent upsurge in violence, including attacks on camps for innocent civilians, humanitarian aid workers and African Union troops provides a bleak reminder that Congress must take more substantive action to adequately address the ongoing crisis. We urge you to co-sponsor and take all necessary action to pass the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (S. 1462 and H.R. 3127) before Congress adjourns this year.
It is a travesty for the most powerful country in the world to acknowledge genocide but not support that declaration with the actions necessary to stop genocide. As people of faith, we believe that good government is a gift from God when the authority and responsibility is exercised in the service of the common good. We agree with President Bush, as he stated in his second inaugural address, that "Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth. And our country must abandon all the habits of racism because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time."
Particularly in light of the lethargic response of the international community to the atrocities of Darfur, it is deeply troubling that the United States government has not done more to bring about peace. Just as U.S. leadership was critical earlier this decade in bringing a peace agreement to end the decades-long Civil War in southern Sudan, a U.S.-led international campaign in Darfur has the potential finally to bring hope to the long-suffering people of Darfur. On the other hand, without a global response led by the U.S., instability in the region will reach historic proportions, creating a haven for terrorist cells and a state of chronic humanitarian emergency, to say nothing of starvation and continued violence.
Supporting and passing the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act would be a positive step by Congress toward stopping violence and creating stability in Sudan. Over the course of the conflict in Darfur, Congressional leadership repeatedly has proven critical in motivating the Administration to action. We call on Congress to lead once again by passing this legislation. We are committed to supporting you and being part of this process.
By naming this crime and then tolerating its continuation, the United States allows the genocide to persist with impunity. The lack of substantive action by the U.S. calls into question the sincerity of that proclamation. As the late Dr. Martin Luther King once wrote, "Man’s inhumanity to man is not only perpetrated by the vitriolic actions of those who are bad, it is also perpetrated by the vitiating inaction of those who are good." Let us move forward together, continuing the long tradition of partnership that the religious community and government have in providing humanitarian relief and recognizing the equal value of all life. It is not too late to make "Never Again" more than an empty promise. We urge you to pass the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act immediately. |
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Our General Minister and President, the Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, joined other religious leaders in signing this letter. To read a press release about this, PLEASE CLICK HERE. |
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