How Long Will We Ignore...

[Oh Snap]

Sudan?
When will Sudan become a worthy story? Earlier this week, a U.N. official said the country is in a "free fall" toward becoming the next Rwanda, that 6 million people are in danger, and that the violence has spread to two other countries. I didn't really see anything about it on TV, though.
So what would make people care? If government sponsored rape, murder and kidnappings aren't enough to get a story in a newscast, what is? I wonder if, years from now when it's a bona fide genocide, anyone will regret how little was done.
I occassionaly see or read stories about Sudan on the networks, or in the New York Times... but the only consistant reporting on it is coming from Anne Curry's blog, a blog from an anonymous aide worker who's been kicked out of the country, and the AP.
Am I missing a perfectly good explanation?

[The Mockingbird]

Because the average American doesn't even know the Sudan is a county, let alone where it is and what its politics and current events are.

[Conservative, of old.]

I had no idea Sudan is a County?! Which state Mock?

[tater]

Or...I'm guessing it doesn't have oil or weapons of mass destruction pointed at the US.

[The Mockingbird]

Originally posted by Conservative, of old.:
I had no idea Sudan is a County?! Which state Mock?Hoo ahh! Pooned by the spelling police.

Sudan is a Parish, it's in Louisiana. :D

[Spike]

We'll ignore it until it goes away. "Stay the course!"

[Bureau Chief]

We cant save them all. Since when did the US become the worlds answer to all problems?

Maybe its time that people reach down and help themselves for a change since our "influence" isnt desired anymore and we are such bad people and all. Let the Muslim countries feed them for a while since they claim to be a religion of peace and love etc etc.

[cinehead]

Originally posted by Bureau Chief:
We cant save them all. Since when did the US become the worlds answer to all problems?

Maybe its time that people reach down and help themselves for a change since our "influence" isnt desired anymore and we are such bad people and all. Let the Muslim countries feed them for a while since they claim to be a religion of peace and love etc etc.True, we can't save everyone. But are you saying media should only do stories about places the U.S. can save?

[Roy Hobbs]

Broderick Crawford was always calling in about suspects driving in a Sudan.

http://www.hollywoodusa.co.uk/images/crawford.jpg

[stpeterdontyacallme]

Originally posted by Mockingbird with cranberry sauce:
Because the average American doesn't even know the Sudan is a county, let alone where it is and what its politics and current events are.That's because they're getting their "news" by watching TV. If we actually DID news, then maybe people would know about something more than the light rain that will be reported as a torrential downpour.

[demonOFscreamin]

America will care when Borat decides to endorse Sudan

[demonOFscreamin]

America will care when Borat decides to endorse Sudan

[Sir Dropham Pants]

Ann Curry's Darfur stories are free video downloads this week on iTunes.

[News Is Broken]

Originally posted by tater:
Or...I'm guessing it doesn't have oil or weapons of mass destruction pointed at the US.Ladies and gentlemen... we have a winner.

[Bureau Chief]

I say lets rebuild New Orleans before we send one more dollar out in foreign aid.

[Oh Snap]

Originally posted by tater:
Or...I'm guessing it doesn't have oil or weapons of mass destruction pointed at the US.There is oil in Sudan. China invests heavily in it. China gives money to the Sudanese government for oil. The Sudanese goverment pays militants. The militants kill and rape civilians. And I believe before Osama bin Ladin was America's most wanted terrorist, he was in Sudan. This was during the Clinton administration. From 1991-1996 (there was a civil war and slavery going on in Sudan at this time) bin Ladin lived there, and with the help of the Sudanese government and Iran, he and al-Qaeda made a lot of new connections.

Not that THAT should go into any newscasts NOW. It's way in the past.

But 30 civilians were killed in Darfur over the weekend. And when their relatives demonstrated the other day, three of them were killed by African Union Peacekeepers. That's out there in case anyone gets tired of running stories about Christmas trees in Seattle. Or photos of Britney's crotch. ;)

[tater]

There is oil in Sudan. China invests heavily in it. China gives money to the Sudanese government for oil. The Sudanese goverment pays militants. The militants kill and rape civilians. And I believe before Osama bin Ladin was America's most wanted terrorist, he was in Sudan. This was during the Clinton administration. From 1991-1996 (there was a civil war and slavery going on in Sudan at this time) bin Ladin lived there, and with the help of the Sudanese government and Iran, he and al-Qaeda made a lot of new connections.
Okay you're right Sudan has oil and it goes to China and other East Asian countries...but if it went to the US the media might cover the civil war a little more. If Bin Laden was still stationed in Sudan the media may cover it a little more. But the main reasons why Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and Afghanistan make the news is either the oil we get there or the threat (or supposed threats) of WMD. It cruel and heartless but US media focuses on what world problems that affect the US.

[ December 12, 2006, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: tater ]

[Oh Snap]

Originally posted by tater:
But the main reasons why Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and Afghanistan make the news is either the oil we get there or the threat (or supposed threats) of WMD. It cruel and heartless but US media focuses on what world problems that affect the US.[/QB]I suppose I was trying to be too subtle in making my point... it was that we could all potentially be affected by letting things slide, or ignoring transgressions. The U.S. government knew bin Laden was in Sudan, but didn't do a whole lot about it. I'm not saying they should have, and I'm not saying if they had it would have made a difference. Bin Laden needed support to carry off 9/11... and to continue to hide for 5 years afterwards. It's possible he garnered some of that support while he was in Sudan. I think it's dangerous to have ANY governments freely supporting terrorism (which Sudan does). The U.S. may not have a whole lot of direct involvement with that government, but we do with other governments that work closely with them.

Perhaps I'm being too much of an idealist in thinking that we should run stories that may not have an immediate, direct impact on this country. But you're in denial if you don't think we do it all the time. What impact does a dead Russian ex-spy have on us? How does Princess Diana's death affect me a decade later? Not saying I don't want to see these stories... but let's be honest. Irrelevant stories run all the time.

[Lazlo Toth]

Sadly, we have a long history of largely ignoring centers of genocide for far too long. Rwanda and Bosnia come to mind as recent examples.