Momentum

In hopes of raising awareness about the reality of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, Sam writes every Monday about a key issue in an attempt to stop the atrocity. Doing so may not bring about a wave of change, but it is a small ripple that represents the tide that needs turning.

The bad news from last week was that the rebel factions, who did not sign the original peace agreement at the beginning of May, missed the extended deadline for signing the agreement on May 31.

After the rally in DC, it seemed like there was a lot of momentum. Newspapers began to pay more attention to the genocide, large and powerful nations sent diplomats to help negotiate during the peace process, and then a deal was finally brokered.

But this thing is still a long way from being over.

But, today, President Bush again stated his desire to have a workable solution. In my opinion, the best way for the president to salvage any sort of meaningful legacy is to focus on Africa.

While Americans moan and scream about gas prices, as Iraq falls apart, and the economy still looks like a giant question mark to many, George Bush could make the biggest difference in Africa. What if he spent the money to get the people on the ground to end poverty and hunger, cure disease and curb AIDS? What if he brokered peace between nations and inside of them? What if rebel dictators were voted out of office by freedom-hungry Africans? What if everything on that continent changed for the better because of initiatives spearheaded by this administration? What if, in 30 years, Mali was the next China and Malawi the next India?

Sometimes it's easier to move than clean your house.