So over a thousand people have been slaughtered in the past month in the world's newest country, South Sudan. It is a terrible tragedy- with no real institutions running yet and an inexperienced government busy fighting against aggression from Sudan to the north and rebels within, the people of this nation are once again caught in a conflict that proves how fragile our existence is in this world. Amid the chaos, those seeking peace have called for a cease fire and time to work out a fragile truce between the government and rebels. To do this, they took their talks to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa so they could rationally debate the issues in a calm, neutral setting.
So far, the story is a perfect demonstration of the instability of the fast changing world we live in and how those who want to make the world a better place must put forth heroic efforts to do so.
But the story is also a bit of a downer. Where's the fun?
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| Here's the fun. |
So the delegates get to Addis Ababa ready to talk but Ethiopia has some trouble finding a suitable venue for these men. So where do these august gentlemen trying to stop their country from tearing themselves apart find themselves?
In a nightclub. That's still open.
If you look in the picture, you can see the DJ in the back with cords coming down from his equipment. Delegates complained of the "poor lighting" and "excessive noise." Have you ever tried having a real conversation in a nightclub? It's damn near impossible. Now try having a conversation upon which the lives of thousands hangs on. Imagine General Robert E. Lee surrendering to General Grant and trying to work out the details of the post-war world and Grant shouting, "I'm sorry- WHAT? I can't- did you say you want the sexy back? I'm sorry, that's a DEAL BREAKER. WAR ON."
But luckily the delegates didn't have to put up with this for long because the leaders of a nation at war got booted out of their room. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to town and obviously his trip was more important than stopping a civil war, so the South Sudanese leaders got put in the basement of the building. So now the peace talks have gone from a nightclub to a basement.
Peace is hard in this chaotic world. Sometimes to build a nation, you've just got to break it down. You need to compromise- they need to raise the roof on what they can do and you need to drop the base. It won't always be calm- sometimes people will be raving. You just need to stick with it- grind away at the problem. Hopefully the talks will hit the right chords and one day, they will get their country out of its funk.
In a nightclub. That's still open.
If you look in the picture, you can see the DJ in the back with cords coming down from his equipment. Delegates complained of the "poor lighting" and "excessive noise." Have you ever tried having a real conversation in a nightclub? It's damn near impossible. Now try having a conversation upon which the lives of thousands hangs on. Imagine General Robert E. Lee surrendering to General Grant and trying to work out the details of the post-war world and Grant shouting, "I'm sorry- WHAT? I can't- did you say you want the sexy back? I'm sorry, that's a DEAL BREAKER. WAR ON."
But luckily the delegates didn't have to put up with this for long because the leaders of a nation at war got booted out of their room. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to town and obviously his trip was more important than stopping a civil war, so the South Sudanese leaders got put in the basement of the building. So now the peace talks have gone from a nightclub to a basement.
Peace is hard in this chaotic world. Sometimes to build a nation, you've just got to break it down. You need to compromise- they need to raise the roof on what they can do and you need to drop the base. It won't always be calm- sometimes people will be raving. You just need to stick with it- grind away at the problem. Hopefully the talks will hit the right chords and one day, they will get their country out of its funk.
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