Bahai Beach 67

Bahai Beach 67

What makes the heart tick?

June 3, 2007

Human touch, a story, sharing experience all this and more makes the human condition worthwhile. Imagine a world without myths, folk stories, songs, dance and laughter. You might as well not live.

Here in Oure Cassoni I am delighted daily with the stories of the Zaghawa’s. Despite their plight live moves on. For 11 months and 66 Bahai Beaches I have been trying to share the ups and downs of their lives with friends, family and anyone who wants to know more.

On first thought it is easy to presume life is horrendous, hard after being victim of mass murder, rape, destruction of houses, theft of all livelihood. No one will claim life is easy in a refugee camp when you have lost everything. Yet for me my Sudanese coworkers, patients and friends do not give me a feeling of hopelessness instead I think it is here I first realized what the word resilience truly means.

Never give up!
Whatever is thrown on your path.
Is there a choice?

Colorful anecdotes of their customs, traditions are shared daily during our shared meal of lentils and bread. It gives to airy nothing a local habitation and a name. The stories sometimes shiver my spine and I so much wish I could share them with more people. Not as a spokesperson. There are enough refugees eloquent to slam home the message.

Advocacy and humanitarian do not always gel well. Ask Mr. Rubenstein of the Save the Darfur Coalition.
Yet the story of people themselves should be the starting point of any action or intervention. What is their viewpoint? All to often conclusion are drawn for refugees

People are people. Whatever their religion, skin color or nationality. All have sad, touching, funny and sage stories to tell. It is there where the deepest gap in communication lies. Reporters come for 3-4 days write a piece and whiz of to the next article. In depth and continuing communication is lacking.

The I-Act initiative with camera teams in the camps to have people tell their stories to a world wide audience via the Internet is something that has impressed me a lot. How can one not be touched when a personal story is being told? Having direct interaction would make it even harder for the world to not want to act in the reality that is called Darfur.

What makes a heart tick is an easy question to answer:

It is the real life story of any refugee.

Let us work on getting those stories out there

Namaskar

Ashis