A question keeps lingering in my head. 'How can a person do this?' How can they do this as human beings?' Whenever I heard news of genocide or war, I used to cursorily think 'they must be fighting for power or survival.' The thorough studies of African countries, however left me puzzled with factual, but not understandable answer. They simply fight with no particular reasons. Whatever the whole intention of the fight is, people seem to enjoy every moment they fight and present instability. I recall, how RUF soldiers in 'a long way gone' boasted their numbers of killing, and tried to devise new ways to result 'zero' survivors. They were not merely happy for the victory of a group they belong to, but for their cruel violence. What turned them into merciless monsters? What made Hutus in Rwanda to kill, even violating the sacred places? I can only assume that they change because of their 'environment'. Even though, the boy soldiers in Sierra Leone resisted to 'accept' violence at first, after a while they adjust in their new treacherous ambiance to survive. We, as human beings are capable of miraculously adapting to new surroundings. In many times, this ability is advantageous, but for certain times, it could be detrimental.
I fear. As I study more and more concerning conflicts around the world, especially in Africa, fear slaps me on my face. I do not mean to write about cliches, but I am truly privileged. Never in my life, I have never worried about tomorrow, wondering what I am supposed to do, where I am supposed to go to find food. I have never been thirsty enough to drink my own urine. While I am think about what I want to get for birthday or Christmas present, there are people dying from thirst, hunger and abhorrent violence. My awareness burdens with obligations; I feel like I have to do something. I was surprised to see how the donations and supplies for the refugees were used wrongly. Unless, I bring the supplies by myself, I cannot ensure if my help would reach hands of those who are truly in need of it. Besides, appallingly, the sufferings of those who are half way around the world do not occupy my thoughts at all times. It is all just moments. We turn on the TV to sympathize with those who are in pain, but by the time we eat dinner, we are more concerned with our problems. Indifference is more frightening than ignorance. We do not help, not because of incapability, but because of apathy. I fear that someday we will be paying the price for our cold indifference. I fear that our indiffernce breeds more and more violence. The violence evil enough to plunge the entire humanity to abysmal misery.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Poverty and Death
The war caused Sierra Leone to become a country with the highest rate of infants' death. Many of infants and children suffer from malnutrition. The annihilated bridges and constructed roads majorly contribute to starvation by delaying the food transportation. The clinics throughout the country are having hard time distributing the food because there are simply not enough foods. Sierra Leoneans struggle to live with one meal a day, while we waste our food every meal. They not only starve to death, but they also die from food itself. Even though, many suffer from severe diarrhea and vomiting, people are reluctant to ask for help, because they are embarrassed; a woman who did not get proper help in the clinic due to her embarrassment eventually died from diarrhea. Mothers beg to not to discharge their children from clinics where meager amount of food is provided for children with malnutrition.
The 40 percent of children under age of 5 die from Malaria. Even though, the cause of the malaria is widely known, people have no money to pay for insect repellent or mosquito net.The infants who die during their births are buried with cardboard coffins. I wonder what I can do to help those in Sierra Leone. I could give donation, but who knows where it goes? There is no way for me to make sure my donation helps those who are in need of it. I recall South Koreans' effort to help the poor in North Korea ended up helping Kim Jung Il. What could we truly do to help our neighbors?
Postwar Drinking
Before the civil war, Sierra Leone had been known for having low drinking rate. However, during the war, rebels as well as government militia consumed alcohol to incite themselves in killing countless civilians.
So, what happened after the war?
Many people had strongly alleged that denizens in Sierra Leone would continue to drink due to 'heavy drinking war'. However, those plausible assumptions have been proven to be wrong; citizens in Sierra Leone seems to be returning to their traditional lives quite easily. Many managed to reconstruct their villages with strong collaboration and helps of various non-profit organization. Even though many have been exposed to modernization through refugee camps in Freetown, they somehow managed to maintain their cultural beliefs. Following their traditions, many indigenous people have succeeded in not drinking alcohol. Unlike most of the villages in Sierra Leone, however, Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown seems to have been excluded from the benefits of traditions. Freetown shows the highest drinking rate throughout the country. As a capital, Freetown is a multicultural city where true modernization is portrayed. Due to its modernization, people find themselves relatively free from customs as well as religious beliefs. It seems as though tradition is what holds Sierra Leone together; customs seems to work as a catalyst to expedite postwar reconstruction. The traditions in Sierra Leone show contradictory aspects. Even though millions of women suffer from female genital mutilation, there are those who actually benefit from it.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone
“They used a crude penknife, it was so painful. I bled excessively for two days and fainted when I wanted to walk.”
-Turay at the age of 11.
The female genital mutilation severely violates women rights. Unlike, Muslims who coerce women circumcision for religious beliefs, women in African countries including Sierra Leone suffers from genital mutilation with no particular reason; people in Sierra Leone execute women circumcision only to follow their traditional beliefs. The female circumcision is executed for girls as young as 8 months. The whole purpose of the female circumcision is to clearly amputate clitoris. One of the victims of genital mutilation says she was forced to be circumcised twice, because her first circumcision was not properly done. The elders in Sierra Leone seems to justify female circumcision, alleging that women who are not circumcised are detested by their husband due to their 'smell'.
Unlike, male circumcision, female genital mutilation does not benefit women whatsoever. In fact, it only worsens women's health condition as well as psychological condition. Even though postwar women in Sierra Leone strive to extend their rights, female genital mutilation seems to be left prevalent due to people's desire to uphold their traditions after the treacherous civil war. Rugiatu Turay, one of the victims of severe female genital mutilation suggests education of women as a solution to this issue: “Educating people is empowering them. It is only through their minds that you can change the attitude of people” The women's literacy rate in Sierra Leone is as low as 18%; it does not seem to improve as much, due to the civil war which utterly damaged educational system in Sierra Leone.
From lower wages to female mutilation, women around the globe suffers from various injustice. At first, I thought women rights in Sierra Leone must be improving, but now I am not so sure anymore. Even though, women seems to be perpetuating their roles in politics and economy, they still suffer from circumcision that is upheld by people in the name of 'tradition'. Should this tradition be nullified? Do we have rights to interfere in altering other countries' amoral traditional beliefs?
-Turay at the age of 11.
The female genital mutilation severely violates women rights. Unlike, Muslims who coerce women circumcision for religious beliefs, women in African countries including Sierra Leone suffers from genital mutilation with no particular reason; people in Sierra Leone execute women circumcision only to follow their traditional beliefs. The female circumcision is executed for girls as young as 8 months. The whole purpose of the female circumcision is to clearly amputate clitoris. One of the victims of genital mutilation says she was forced to be circumcised twice, because her first circumcision was not properly done. The elders in Sierra Leone seems to justify female circumcision, alleging that women who are not circumcised are detested by their husband due to their 'smell'.
Unlike, male circumcision, female genital mutilation does not benefit women whatsoever. In fact, it only worsens women's health condition as well as psychological condition. Even though postwar women in Sierra Leone strive to extend their rights, female genital mutilation seems to be left prevalent due to people's desire to uphold their traditions after the treacherous civil war. Rugiatu Turay, one of the victims of severe female genital mutilation suggests education of women as a solution to this issue: “Educating people is empowering them. It is only through their minds that you can change the attitude of people” The women's literacy rate in Sierra Leone is as low as 18%; it does not seem to improve as much, due to the civil war which utterly damaged educational system in Sierra Leone.
From lower wages to female mutilation, women around the globe suffers from various injustice. At first, I thought women rights in Sierra Leone must be improving, but now I am not so sure anymore. Even though, women seems to be perpetuating their roles in politics and economy, they still suffer from circumcision that is upheld by people in the name of 'tradition'. Should this tradition be nullified? Do we have rights to interfere in altering other countries' amoral traditional beliefs?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Postwar Women in Sierra Leone
Women in Sierra Leone are striving to expand their rights after the civil war.
Women's rights differ from various areas in Sierra Leone; relatively, women in northern Sierra Leone has limited rights compared to other parts of the region. The treacherous civil war left many women widowed or separated from their husbands. Those women has no way of living, unless they are allowed to own and cultivate their land. Postwar circumstance in Sierra Leone is coercing its traditional culture to open up more opportunities for women. Nowadays in Sierra Leone, group of women as well as youths are striving to expand their rights through campaigns and broadcasting systems. I recall women in United States were able to elevate their status in social hierarchy through World War II; women worked as a labor force while men fought in the war. Postwar women in Sierra Leone and in United States seem to show interesting correlation; war inadvertently gave rise to women's right in both cases.
Even though women's role in society seems to be growing, there are still many women still suffering 'silent war' and postwar side effects such as HIV/AIDS. Ironically, despite the rise of social reforms, the number of rape cases are higher than before or during the war.
I wonder if regional differences are somehow engaged in creating this inconsistent social status women throughout the nation.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Sierra Leone's Ghetto Taxpayers
Locals carry tax receipts in holders around their necks"I don't have a job, but I have paid my tax"
-Mohamed Bangura, 38-
"I paid the tax because I want to rehabilitate the country"
-Salu Koroma, 28-
Sierra Leone is recovering from the civil war with its denizens' adamant endeavors to reconstruct the country. Unlike ghettos around the globe, ghetto in Sierra Leone is full of people who wear "tax receipts in holders around their necks." Most of the people who pay the taxes are unemployed and struggles for their living every day. However, their poverty and unemployment does not seem to stop them from participating in reconstructing their country; it is amazing to see significant number of tax payers in a country where 70% of people live under poverty line. Due to total obliteration during the war, schools as well as incalculable number of homes and businesses have been utterly destroyed. Sierra Leone's literacy rate is one of the lowest in the world. To ameliorate their country, citizens in Sierra Leone offer whatever they have that might contribute to reconstruction. This article reminds me of one of the parables in the Bible: when Jesus saw a widow offering all she has to God, he said she offered more than any other men with affluence. Sierra Leone might be considered as the most impoverished country, but it glows brighter than any other countries around the globe with their invincible efforts.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Silent War
"Mosquito was the first person who raped me. Then he ordered his men to continue the act. Nine other men continued to rape me. . . . After misusing me to their satisfaction, the rebels left me alone in a very hopeless condition. . . . Even now the pain is still in me, which is creating problems in my marital home, because my husband drives me from my home and says that I am barren."Surprisingly, disparity exists even among the victims of Sierra Leone civil war. Unlike men and boys who recover from the most terrible war through various reintegration programs, women are excluded from those programs and left alone to fight their continuous 'silent war'. The indigenous culture in Sierra Leone forbids women to publicly come forward and speak. Many women who were courageous enough to discuss their problems were left bereaved and secluded from their society. The relentless rape during the war gives sharp rise to HIV/AIDS or other types of sexually transmitted diseases rate in Sierra Leone. In 2001, U.N. stated that among 170,000 of people who were infected to HIV/AIDS, about 90,000 of them were women between the ages of 15 and 49. Even though, women are having hard time reintegrating to their community, the disparity in their culture keeps them silent. If Ishmael were not a boy, but a girl, he might not have been able to publish his memoir. Both women and boys confront post-war dilemma. What Sierra Leone needs the most is compassion and recovery of love and respect. What happened to Sierra Leone that used to boast its genuine hospitality? What happened to people who valued the community as a whole? Even though the war has been stopped, people in Sierra Leone still suffers from silent war where they have to count on their own.
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol18no4/184sierraleone.htm
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