Day For Darfur
Currently trying to work out why I shouldn't go down to London on sunday for the Global Day for Darfur.
Seriously. I know there are probably reasons why I might be able to find a better use of my time and energy, but I really can't think of any off the top of my head. So if anybody's got any ideas, argument for argument's sake, I would appreciate the dialogue, if only so I can be clear in my head why I decide to go, or not to go.
I guess I lied a bit when I said I couldn't think of any reasons to not go. I've got three, I think, but they're lame ones and probably wouldn't stop me going by themselves.
Firstly, I don't actually know that much about Darfur, and I am generally very critical of people that go protesting and demonstrating over things they haven't bothered to read up on. It always comes across as lazy and poserish to me, which I find disgusting when taken in the context of a serious issue. I don't want to go to a demonstration just so I can say I've been to a demonstration. On the other hand, I know genocide, and I know systematic rape. And I'm not sure I really need to know any much more than that.
Second, I don't think this day of demonstrations will actually make much difference. I think Darfur is probably screwed, and that there's not much anybody in the western world can do about this. But in my mind being ineffectual is not a good enough reason to not want to be part of a voice that I feel is important.
Third, train tickets are pricey. Bus tickets save me about £10, but take way longer and are at inconvenient times. Plus uncomfortable. But I do have money at the moment, and I'd feel awful about myself if I used that as a reason to not go.
Talk to me?
Seriously. I know there are probably reasons why I might be able to find a better use of my time and energy, but I really can't think of any off the top of my head. So if anybody's got any ideas, argument for argument's sake, I would appreciate the dialogue, if only so I can be clear in my head why I decide to go, or not to go.
I guess I lied a bit when I said I couldn't think of any reasons to not go. I've got three, I think, but they're lame ones and probably wouldn't stop me going by themselves.
Firstly, I don't actually know that much about Darfur, and I am generally very critical of people that go protesting and demonstrating over things they haven't bothered to read up on. It always comes across as lazy and poserish to me, which I find disgusting when taken in the context of a serious issue. I don't want to go to a demonstration just so I can say I've been to a demonstration. On the other hand, I know genocide, and I know systematic rape. And I'm not sure I really need to know any much more than that.
Second, I don't think this day of demonstrations will actually make much difference. I think Darfur is probably screwed, and that there's not much anybody in the western world can do about this. But in my mind being ineffectual is not a good enough reason to not want to be part of a voice that I feel is important.
Third, train tickets are pricey. Bus tickets save me about £10, but take way longer and are at inconvenient times. Plus uncomfortable. But I do have money at the moment, and I'd feel awful about myself if I used that as a reason to not go.
Talk to me?