[Vision2020] Fwd: a note from Karon Davis in Sudan...getting ready to come home...

[Tom Trail]

>Visionaries:


Many of us read from time to time about Darfur and Sudan.
The following e mail comes from my niece, Karon, who is
just completing a 6 month assignment in Sudan.

Rep. Tom Trail

>
>Dear Tom:  You always write the most interesting e-mails.  I hope Jon is
>feeling better and all is well with you.  This assignment has been a
>challenge to say the least - but the Sudanese people are the nicest and most
>pleasant Africans I have ever met.  Its the "ugly Americans" I get so mad
>with.  One of the drivers was telling me one day how an American lady kept
>calling her driver stupid to her co-workers as they were riding into work. 
>All of the Sudanese speak excellent English.  I was sitting in front of the
>Embassy one day and a lady came to the front gate and until you produce your
>identication badge, the guards will not let you in.  She spouted "let me in,
>you should know me by now".  I was so embarrassed.  I have to say this is
>the most archaic, dysfunctional place I have ever been.  All of the Embassy
>staff are on one year assignments and not one cares about how things get
>done and if, in fact, if ever get done.   Not their problem!  The Darfur
>situation is not getting better - the AU is here now, but is running out of
>money and it is felt they have done little to restore calm in the region. 
>Sudan simply does not want UN intervention forces to be deployed here - they
>see it as foreign aggression.   So today the people of Darfur are continuing
>to suffer.  The former President in 1983 declared Sudan a totally Islamic
>republic by force, and inflicted death on more than 1.5 million people
>through genocide and famine.  Its a fight between rebel Southerners and
>Northerners, farmers and nomads.
>
>But, I have less than two weeks to go and am ready.  I cancelled our cruise
>as I was only going to be home one day and since I just was there in April
>(the Caribbean), been there done that.  An Alaskan cruise sounds more
>appealing in the future.
>
>Hopefully, we can get together sometime this winter.  Keep in 
><mailto:touch. at msn.com>touch.


-- 
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel:  (208) 882-6077
Fax:  (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail at moscow.com
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