Campus Activism

Last week here on campus there was a “Support Lebanon” campaign. The campaign was successful and a lot of money was raised for the victims. The money was given to the Lebanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Moreover a petition requesting a stop to Israel’s bombing was signed by all those who donated including me. It got sent to the US Embassy here.

One of the guys organizing the campaign was a Sudanese. I gave him an idea about making a similar campaign for the sake of the miserable ones in Darfur. He didn’t like it and said it could raise sensitive issues. According to him the publicity will make us seem “pitiful” in the eys of others and it could create tension amongst the diverse Sudanese community on the university campus. For example he said that if we were going to raise donations for Darfur, we should also do the same for those in south Sudan. He had a point and so I agreed. However he said there will be others who still won’t be happy with the whole idea of “begging for money”. I just didn’t understand that. When the Pakistani earthquake occured, the Pakistani community on our campus set up their own successful campaign. I’m sure to them it wasn’t “begging for money”. They were simply helping their country mates and I think it’s a very honorable thing.

My friend also wondered to whom we were going to give the money after we collected it. “What about the Sudanese Embassy?” he asked. Ya, sure thing and last night my grandmother planted a tree on the moon too. The Sudanese dictatorship would probably swallow the donations as they do most of the time. “Why don’t we give the money to aid agencies working in Sudan then?” I asked. “They’ll probably steal it too” replied my friend. Each one of us wanted to go with a different strategy and each one of us had his own doubts and worries.

We continued arguing. I had enough and so did he. “I don’t want to get involved in this. It’s just too complicated” he finally said before getting up to leave. I didn’t know what to think at that moment. A slight feeling of despair crept into my mind and soul. I decided to ask the other Sudanese what they thought. They all raised the same concerns and said it would create problems. They told me to “just let it be”. By now the despair was too overwhelming.

It’s not an easy task organizing such a campaign all alone while also keeping up with classes. Maybe I give up too easily or maybe I just try too hard. I don’t know which one it is. I guess it’s too difficult for me to accept reality sometimes and in the process all I do is just drain out myself. My problem is that I’m either very passionate and caring or dead and cold like a stone. Ask the girls who know me well and they’ll tell you. Those who aren’t close to me will profess my very cheerful and goofy nature. It’s true but that’s only scratching the thick surface.

Before hitting “Publish”, I think it would do you good to know that when Katrina hit, a campaign here on campus was launched for the sake of victims too. The majority contributed generously but unsurprisingly there was a minority that didn’t want to donate to “nasty evil America”. “Those f*ckers can take care of themselves” shouted a guy I know at the booth girl. Sigh!

It’s time for my “six-stringed” best friend to come out of his case. An E major blues solo drowned and compressed in a little reverb and delay ought to do it. That’s a little sound engineering talk for you right there. If you know what a Shure SM57 is, you’re my new buddy. Peace!

9 Responses to “Campus Activism”

1. Aimster on August 19th, 2006 8:57 am

   Don’t despair, hun.
   Right now you might not be in the perfect position to take the necessary cause of action, but at least you can start planning on what you intend to do about it.
   At the moment you might not have the means, or power to do what you want to, but someday you will.
   (However I do hope the situation in Sudan is resolved as soon as possible)
   Don’t think about what you can’t do, think about what you can do. If you can’t take any action at this stage in time, plan for the future. Make aid to Sudan accessible for others like you, who want to help.
   If you don’t have the means, create the means.

   I understand that you can’t just snap your fingers, but in time all things are possible. *hugs*

2. Drima on August 19th, 2006 9:36 am

   Owh babe, thanks for that. How are things with you in Singapore? I thought you were coming down to KL soon. Let me know when okay?

   Mish ya!

3. Bec on August 19th, 2006 6:23 pm

   Hi Drima,

   I’ve found your posts to be interesting and instructive. I can see that you’re making a real effort to reach as many folks of all types as you can. You have a calm, understanding personality and it helps set a good tone for discussing.

   The situation in Darfur is terribly frustrating. I’m not sure what a college student can do, but trying can never hurt. I donate regularly to Oxfam because I hear it’s highly respected. I looked up their web site just now and found that they are having a horrible time, too. Here. There are email contacts at the bottom of the page.

   I’m making sure to earmark my donation for Darfur.

4. Tsedek on August 19th, 2006 7:42 pm

   The conclusion in the end is that nobody can be trusted with helping the people in Sudan who are in need?
   Why are things so desparate there
   For how long a bad situation can continue??

   That’s heartbreaking… Isn’t there something you can set up yourself, Drima - sorta start up a help organization?

   Btw: when Katrina was happening i know of Dutch people didn’t wanna donate for the same reason. They confused government with people. That was real sad.

   Tse.

5. Nouri on August 19th, 2006 9:57 pm

   Shure’s are pretty nice. I played in front of one (SM57 for oud) at a circumcion party about a year ago, wonderful. There was one on the dumbek and another on the oud. I’m not sure what the vocals used but it was rather good (sort of low).

   Keep fighting bro.

6. Drima on August 20th, 2006 12:15 am

   Nouri, bingo! You’re my new cyber buddy =) … I’ve always wanted to learn how to play oud man. I’m planning to buy one during my next trip to Sudan.

   Tse, given the situation I would rather do my own part as an individual and just stick to what I do most of the time ie. donating on my own to agencies like CARE. Maybe when I become a successful entrepreneur, I would set up my agency for sure.

   Cheers to all.

7. The Raccoon on August 20th, 2006 5:44 am

   You know, Drima, perhaps at the moment the best thing you can do for Sudan is spreading awareness. What good is money when nobody knows what it should be used for?

   As the adage goes, “No wind is favorable when you don’t know where you’re sailing to”.

   So keep up the good work

8. IsrealiMom on August 20th, 2006 10:13 am

   Hi Drima,

   Just wanted to say hi and let you know that I blogged about your blog at www.mevoices.com. I also linked to you from our new forums, and started a thread about one of your posts there -
   http://www.metalks.com/showthread.php?t=50

   You’re more than welcome to join us at www.metalks.com!

9. Drima on August 21st, 2006 12:36 am

   Israelimom, I’ll drop by and keep track for sure. A lot of interesting discussions going on there. Thanks!

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