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September 30, 2007

What is it Going to Take?

Because I spent a year in Zimbabwe when it was a rising star in Africa, it has been intensely painful for me to see the country's descent into Hell. Cathy Buckle's latest post about living in Zimbabwe is particularly chilling. As she describes the depths of despair and the lack of any uprising among the people I couldn't help but wonder if Americans would be any less compliant and helpless. Considering the toleration we have demonstrated for destruction of our Constitution and our international reputation, I have my doubts.

This week as Monks and then ordinary people in Burma took to the streets in their thousands calling out 'Democracy, Democracy' in the face of the police and soldiers, we can't help but wonder why something similar does not happen here. The chant could be shorter and even simpler than in Burma and it could just be: 'Food, food,' but without leadership it seems as elusive as ever.

It seems so impossible that people could be in such dire straits and still not rise up. And yet there it is for everyone to see. A whole nation believing itself to be helpless. That is, to me, a phenomenon more terrifying than any threat I can imagine. To be helpless is to be without hope.

Posted by Becky at September 30, 2007 04:34 PM