That HP alliance myspace page is sounds like it was meant for a fictional world like HP, and I am very disappointed that such a fine site like mugglenet, whose objectivity was so superior to certain "other" HP websites would associate them selves with such a radical leftist agenda. I don't mean Darfur, but the many other points of theirs. LORD WALDEMART just shows this. Funnier still that after they denounce a store that provides low prices for poorer people that claim to want to fight poverty. You can help fight poverty in neighborhoods by opening WalMarts and providing people a place to buy more stuff at lower prices. If you want a business or corporate analogy from HP, look at Fred and George, two capitalists who are doing just what made the Waltons a success, selling quality stuff for good prices. And you also make no mention of the hundreds of millions in donations that Lord Waldemart and his family give to charity every year, but then again that doesn't fit the agenda so no wonder. Then to compare Serious' torture and incarceration to anything being done by the US is a flat out lie and you owe it to the people who read your stuff to tell them the truth. Such as Serious is a citizen of Britain, subject to the legal protections of the Ministry. He was put on trial, and thanks to the scheming of Petigrew, found guilty and sent to Azkaban, a place that in addition to its guards have no real life analogy. Compare that to someone who is captured fighting Americans on a battlefield, who are not subject too the legal protections of the Constitution much less even Geneva, who are "tortured" with underwear on their head or barking dogs and their is no comparison. By doing so HP alliance, "other" HP websites and now Mugglenet are at fault for these and many other gross inflations of "facts" and completely taint the otherwise positive aspects of a website that makes literature fun for a new generation.

That HP alliance myspace page is sounds like it was meant for a fictional world like HP, and I am very disappointed that such a fine site like mugglenet, whose objectivity was so superior to certain "other" HP websites would associate them selves with such a radical leftist agenda. I don't mean Darfur, but the many other points of theirs. And hope that in order to maintain said objectivity they have provided material from all sides for people to decide these things on their own. LORD WALDEMART just shows this. Funnier still that after they denounce a store that provides low prices for poorer people that claim to want to fight poverty. You can help fight poverty in neighborhoods by opening WalMarts and providing people a place to buy more stuff at lower prices. If you want a business or corporate analogy from HP, look at Fred and George, two capitalists who are doing just what made the Waltons a success, selling quality stuff for good prices. And you also make no mention of the hundreds of millions in donations that Lord Waldemart and his family give to charity every year, but then again that doesn't fit the agenda so no wonder. Then to compare Serious' torture and incarceration to anything being done by the US is a flat out lie and you owe it to the people who read your stuff to tell them the truth. Such as Serious is a citizen of Britain, subject to the legal protections of the Ministry. He was put on trial, and thanks to the scheming of Petigrew, found guilty and sent to Azkaban, a place that in addition to its guards have no real life analogy. Compare that to someone who is captured fighting Americans on a battlefield, who are not subject too the legal protections of the Constitution much less even Geneva, who are "tortured" with underwear on their head or barking dogs and their is no comparison. By doing so HP alliance, "other" HP websites and now Mugglenet are at fault for these and many other gross inflations of "facts" and completely taint the othe...

That HP alliance myspace page is sounds like it was meant for a fictional world like HP, and I am very disappointed that such a fine site like mugglenet, whose objectivity was so superior to certain "other" HP websites would associate them selves with such a radical leftist agenda. I don't mean Darfur, but the many other points of theirs. And hope that in order to maintain said objectivity they have provided material from all sides for people to decide these things on their own. LORD WALDEMART just shows this. Funnier still that after they denounce a store that provides low prices for poorer people that claim to want to fight poverty. You can help fight poverty in neighborhoods by opening WalMarts and providing people a place to buy more stuff at lower prices. If you want a business or corporate analogy from HP, look at Fred and George, two capitalists who are doing just what made the Waltons a success, selling quality stuff for good prices. And you also make no mention of the hundreds of millions in donations that Lord Waldemart and his family give to charity every year, but then again that doesn't fit the agenda so no wonder. Then to compare Serious' torture and incarceration to anything being done by the US is a flat out lie and you owe it to the people who read your stuff to tell them the truth. Such as Serious is a citizen of Britain, subject to the legal protections of the Ministry. He was put on trial, and thanks to the scheming of Petigrew, found guilty and sent to Azkaban, a place that in addition to its guards have no real life analogy. Compare that to someone who is captured fighting Americans on a battlefield, who are not subject too the legal protections of the Constitution much less even Geneva, who are "tortured" with underwear on their head or barking dogs and their is no comparison. By doing so HP alliance, "other" HP websites and now Mugglenet are at fault for these and many other gross inflations of "facts" and completely taint the othe...

If the G8 governments weren't so ridiculously arrogant and capitalist genocides could be prevented. Romeo Dallaire said that if the US had donated 150 well-trained Marines they could've stopped the Genocide...instead they wouldn't even block the radio from filling the Hutu's with hate. I'm not condeming jsut the American government either...France sent troops to get the travellers out and they sold weapons to RGF. Nobody did anything and 800 000 people were slaughtered in mere months. It's the same in Darfur...only it's been going on for years. The same thing is happening as well. The countries that should and are able to donate troops and money don't because they don't feel it's worth risking their soldiers lives for a country that will give them absolutely nothing. I'm glad the Harry Potter community is trying to get the word out and attempt to influence others to do the same.

That HP alliance myspace page is sounds like it was meant for a fictional world like HP, and I am very disappointed that such a fine site like mugglenet, whose objectivity was so superior to certain "other" HP websites would associate them selves with such a radical leftist agenda. I don't mean Darfur, but the many other points of theirs. And hope that in order to maintain said objectivity they have provided material from all sides for people to decide these things on their own. LORD WALDEMART just shows this. Funnier still that after they denounce a store that provides low prices for poorer people that claim to want to fight poverty. You can help fight poverty in neighborhoods by opening WalMarts and providing people a place to buy more stuff at lower prices. If you want a business or corporate analogy from HP, look at Fred and George, two capitalists who are doing just what made the Waltons a success, selling quality stuff for good prices. And you also make no mention of the hundreds of millions in donations that Lord Waldemart and his family give to charity every year, but then again that doesn't fit the agenda so no wonder. Then to compare Serious' torture and incarceration to anything being done by the US is a flat out lie and you owe it to the people who read your stuff to tell them the truth. Such as Serious is a citizen of Britain, subject to the legal protections of the Ministry. He was put on trial, and thanks to the scheming of Petigrew, found guilty and sent to Azkaban, a place that in addition to its guards have no real life analogy. Compare that to someone who is captured fighting Americans on a battlefield, who are not subject too the legal protections of the Constitution much less even Geneva, who are "tortured" with underwear on their head or barking dogs and their is no comparison. By doing so HP alliance, "other" HP websites and now Mugglenet are at fault for these and many other gross inflations of "facts" and completely taint the othe...

It would take more than 150 marines. You'd tie up a division or more of ground forces, at least one marine air wing for close air support, plus reconnaissance assets, a long logistical tail (requiring air force involvement) and a ground base (for the logistics) which would need protection. (The Marines don't operate A-10s, so the air wing would probably be Harriers; their STO/VL Pegasus engines drink a lot of fuel.)//What would you accomplish?//Well, you'd put the Sudanese air force out of the business of supporting the janjaweed. You'd be able to annihilate them any time they banded together in force (but remember, they keep their women and children with them), you'd have to kill thousands of child soldiers, and you would still not be able to completely stop individual raiders.//There's more, of course, but that's enough to ask if it's worth doing, and more importantly >>if we will still think it's worth doing ten years, a thousand dead marines, and two hundred million dollars down the road (not counting aircraft downed or worn out)

Look, you can argue about this until your face turns blue. Instead, go to www.standnow.org and do something. If you don't want it mixed with Harry Potter for whatever reason, fine. Just go to www.standnow.org and do something. And go to www.fidelityoutofsudan.co m and do something. And sign the petition at www.savedarfur.org Do that before you criticize Emerson or any other brave person who has tried to do any thing to help this world. Thank Emerson. The world owes you.

Oh yeah, help the people of Darfur by sending e-mails and letters. Well, I guess in the happy and perfect world you all live in those items can't be thrown away or deleted, but I might be wrong. Anyway, how can this do anything to stop it? The people in Darfur brought the genocide upon themselves. Heck, don't you know their government supports this? So, what is America and the rest of the world supposed to do? Go in and destroy their "government" and for a completely new one that is free from corruption? Once again, you all live in a perfect world in which money and love solve everything...Huh, that kinda sounds like what the American liberals think too! No wonder they aren't competent enough to hold the outstanding position as President of the most powerful free nation in the world.

... Sorry, the preceding article got cut off. *That's* the kind of price that will have to be paid. If we don't have the fortitude to stick with it in Iraq when our forces are winning (though you'd never know that from the media) in a place where we do have vital interests (if you believe "it's all about oil," then you have admitted a vital interest) then how will the Anglosphere find the fortitude to stick with a job with *no* visible end, lots of 'civilian' deaths (when the 'civilians' are the enemy--vicious fighters who gain the protection of our press because they refuse to wear uniforms) and more ways than we can imagine for foreign politicians to make hay of our every move.//This is why I counsel reason, and a careful counting of the costs before the action.//Military experts please feel free to correct me on the details above; I am not nor ever have been a serviceman of any kind. I do try to learn a little from what I read.

this is absolutely amazing!!

greyniffler... I love you. You've said it better than I could've. Thank you for bringing common sense and reason into this. Both of which are characteristics most of the people of the world are lacking.

while greyniffler's comments contribute to an interesting debate, I ask that greyniffler (who I disagree with on many points) and I come together to admit that evall123 has crossed a line. Eval123: you have crossed a line and I don't know what to say. I am at a loss for words. While I am not partisan and indeed you are partisan, that's not what bugs me. What bugs me is that you just said that the people of Darfur brought this on to themselves. Greyniffler, you and I disagree on things, but please come together on this and distance yourself from this insanity. The people of Darfur did not bring this on themselves!!! I will not even debate a point that is that irrational and mean. I just need to say that evall123 you crossed a line and I would prefer if you apologize immediately.

would you guys just knock it off??!!

To all: I don't believe that the African animists and Christians of Darfur brought upon themselves the Arab storm that they are suffering. I hope I never said that they do.//What I do say is that if we don't have the stomach to finish the job we shouldn't start it, because we'll only make things worse. And if we're not willing to understand, believe, and fight the depths of depravity we're facing, the aggressors will turn most of the things we might do to their own advantage, as they have been doing for years in the wild parts of the world, as they are doing now in Iraq. (The good news is that it's so bad that tribal leaders are now throwing their lot in with the central government--and us.)//Nothing would make me happier than to see the Anglosphere, Europe, India, South Africa, and a few other militarily effective, economically free nations geniunely commit to making and keeping the peace in Darfur, and kicking the assets of the troublemakers off that continent and every other. I just don't see how it will happen in the current climate, and I've tried to give my reasons.//(Why those nations? Read Victor Davis Hanson's _Carnage and Culture_. What depths of depravity? Read Michael Yon's dispatches online from Iraq and Bill Roggio's _Fourth Rail_.)

Thank you Greyniffler for helping to shed some light on that. I will say, however, that you are incorrect on some facts. The Sudanese regime, this very regime has stopped human rights atrocities before through economic pressure. And that's been in the last ten years. They are already showing that they are terrified of that happening again. The US and other countries have been quite noble in their sanctions against Sudan, but Chinese oil companies which a lot of US companies are investing in are still funding it. There are ways to successfully put pressure on China to get these companies to stop. This is a fact. There are ways and they don't involve boycotts on every company that deals with China. All we have to do is put pressure on the right companies...like Fidelity. That campaign is already working. If we can do that, and it is a big job to do, don't get me wrong and if President Bush and other leaders can put enough pressure on China they will come around on this one. Now someone said that if we put sanctions on Sudan that it will hurt the people of Darfur. First, we already have sanctions...we're just trying to close the loopholes on those sanctions. Second, the only thing the government of Sudan gives to the people of Darfur is death and destruction. Sanctions wouldn't hurt Darfur, they would help save it. So please don't make it sound like this situation is hopeless when it is not. There is actually a ton that can be done. Go to www.fidelityoutofsudan.co m And it's not just about signing petitions, though those are surprisingly effective. I spend a lot of time not only reading books about this crisis but talking to diplomats and people who spend their time on the ground in Darfur and the facts are the facts. There is a way to stop this genocide. It's not easy. But it is very possible. The only thing we need is enough people with heart to put pressure on Fidelity and other companies like it. And Harry Potter is full of people with heart. Heart is at t...

To thiefofeddis: M'Dear, I have Emerson pretty well figured out, and he's seriously the kind of person who doesn't care about anything, unless he thinks apathy is gonna affect him adversely. He's kind of like Lucius Malfoy- he puts on a charming front, but underneath it, he's a slimy, horrible person who has a serious dark side. I don't care how people percieve me for saying this- when he's pulling his laughible atempts to pass spoilers as predictions, or showing us the entire next movie before it's out, to me that's funny. Not just that he's sad enough to do that, but that none of you are smart enough to catch on. But when he exploits a book, he's just exploiting fans of a work of fiction. When he's exploiting something like Darfur, that makes me want to kick a Harry Potter box set up his skinny little butt.

Look at the new wall of shame post. It's one of the people in this thread. Emerson has decided to make fun of anyone who disagrees with mixing Harry Potter and politics. Is anyone still willing to defend him? He teases one poster for typing "celevrities" instead of "celebrities." Oh, what a crime -- making a typo when v and b are right next to each other! Emerson needs to get over himself and explain to us why defending U.S. involvement in Darfur is even remotely appropriate even as I'd bet my firstborn that he would never say the same thing about Iraq and Harry Potter.

it should be "CALL OF DUTY: BIG RED MUGGLE ALLIANCE"

Agreed friendoffawkes that sanctions may help, if they are the right sanctions. So can embarrassment of the right kind, as one of the strategypage articles shows. But I stand by my assertion that if we aren't prepared to keep the pressure up for years, it could do more harm than good, and it has its limits in any case.//One thing that has not been said is that northern Sudan is now part of the Arab world. That is another source of strength for the regime and the source of the janjaweed; it also might provide an avenue of attack if the right parties were to lose face over the matter.//I don't believe that China will risk its new petroleum supply and its newfound influence in Africa over the loss even of Fidelity's investing power (or their management expertise, which may be more valuable to China), but I don't think it will hurt Darfur to try. (Investors might be hurt; that's another argument.)//Relief convoys and the use of armed force are a very different matter; they must be done right or not at all. (My opinion.)

paradou: Too bad there's no option to email you. I would so like to talk further to you- you seem to have your head on straight here.

Greyniffler: China is a hard market to leverage, but not impossible. It's really only a hanful of companies in China that are contributing directly to the Sudanese military. That handful happens to be very vulnerable to Western contributing companies and pension funds. And those companies and pension funds are highly vulnerable to the will of the people in the West. Of course sanctions aren't the only thing that needs doing. We need an armed force to protect the villages and if necessary put the guilty before an international tribunal. This, however, does not seem to require a war. It just requires the US and other nations to pressure the UN (and this is possible) to no longer do any diddle daddling on this. But it's really all up to the will of us as citizens. The chess pieces to end the genocide are set. It simply requires the will of each of us to pressure our elected leaders, pension funds, and investment companies to move those pieces. Such actions were invaluable in bringing down Apartheid in South Africa. It's more possible than meets the eye.

ok which one of you are willing to pick up your weapon and defend the Christians that are being slaughtered in Darfur? if you are not willing to put you life on the line, shut up!!!!!!!! It is so easy to sit at your computer and say I support something, but getting out there and doing it is something else.

There are Muslims getting slaughtered in Darfur as well. People of many religions, though all of them God's children. The killing can be stopped. The road map exists. Go to the ENOUGH Project's web site. There are a million resources out there.

hey the books can be used to enforce rightist agendas. rebellion. rightists in the usa are against goverment controlling schools or getting too involved in schools..more rightists support right to bear arms (Wizards in HP clearly and apparently have the right to carry their wands with them out in the world).. Rightists and Rebellion... Forming secret armys, the desire to not want to go to war but cleary realizes evil is out there and must be fought.. But I mean whoo good thing JKR didn't get too radical and started stuffing agendas in our faces. I'd say republicans and right wingers in the usa at least would call 'The UN' the 'The Ministry of Magic'.

The HP Alliance does has a nonpartisan agenda.

The HP Alliance does has a nonpartisan agenda.

friendoffawkes, I am much less sanguine about the UN than you are. The UN is an association of governments, not an association of peoples. Just as the Bar Association supports lawyers, not the lawyers' clients, so the UN is most commonly used to support the governments, not the peoples to whom the governments are supposed to be responsible. There are more despots represented in the UN than free nations. Look at who chairs the Human Rights council, and who accuses whom of genocide, and how money gets diverted. Look at the crimes of which UN 'peacekeeping' forces have been rightly accused.//The UN was a nice idea. It has not worked. In a world with more governments responsible to their peoples, it might.

Why can't they just let this site stay the way it was? I hear enough politics everyplace else, I don't need to hear it here, too.

Amen and Amen to you AnyaMarcos!!!!!!!!!!!

I took a look at the wall of shame. Yikes! That'll teach him/her not to express their opinion! (In this case he/she feels that Emerson is promoting the cause primarily as a means of generating publicity for himself with the cause secondary; comparing him to celebrities who use 'causes' as venues for PR opportunities. I don't believe this is the case here, but people sometimes do take advantage of a popular cause as a means to promote themselves.) Well, I'll certainly be careful of what I post myself; I wouldn't want a stray typo make me a laughingstock (I can do that just fine on my own). Better yet, I'll just keep away from making any futue comments lest they be contrary to what people want to hear.

I love how whats-his face automatically assumes the worst of people trying to notify people about the atrocities commited by the Sudanese governement. He is not abusing his power as webmaster (or whatever you call it) by speaking out against this genocide. An abuse of his power would be rallying Harry Potter fans to boycott the Tranformers movie because its Hp rival at the box office. For all of you saying this is something only Democrats care about, I support action against the Genocide, and I hate both the Democratic and Republican party. Party politics ruined our country just like George Washington said it would.

The Darfur conflict is a complex crisis in the Darfur region of western Sudan. One side of the armed conflict is composed mainly of the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited mostly from the tribes of the northern Rizeigat, camel-herding nomads. The other side comprises a variety of rebel groups, notably the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement, recruited primarily from the land-tilling Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit ethnic groups. The Sudanese government, while publicly denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided money and assistance to the militia and has participated in joint attacks targeting the tribes from which the rebels draw support.[1] The conflict began in February 2003. Unlike in the Second Sudanese Civil War, which was fought between the primarily Muslim north and Christian and Animist south, almost all of the combatants and victims in Darfur are Muslim.[2] ***Wikipedi a Oh no, they didn't bring it upon themselves(sarcasm)

well, I just can' see why everybody is so worked up about this! if you aren't happy with what Emerson sais, fine, but, after all, I don't see anything shocking in wanting to help others. I looked at the wall of shame new entries, and I didn't see anything awful at all...

Aria: My email addy is everycooladdy.equals.take n (at) gmail (dot) com. I'm not worried about posting it here because it's not connected to my personal safety info, which makes it handy for connecting to people when I can't privately let them know my email.

What a great idea! Go, Harry Potter Alliance!

Winkys_Conscience, I agree completely with you about not buying anything from China, but it is very difficult. Practically nothing is manufactured in North America anymore! What a sad state of affairs. I wanted to buy a toaster oven recently, but every single one in the store had been made in China. I remain toaster-oven-less. Other people may not be willing to make that sacrifice and I can't blame them. The Global Economy has taken our options from us while giving us more pollution (from all the overseas shipping). I do not believe it really benefits the Chinese either. Have you noticed how many Chinese products smell horrible? You walk into the store and the whiff just about knocks you down. The plastics are off-gassing God knows what. Whatever chemicals they are adding to the mix are surely not doing anything good for the health of the workers who are manufacturing the stuff. OK, that's enough rant for now. :[

Aria, I do understand where you're coming from. Because I don't personally know Emerson, I don't delude myself into believing that he's this amazing, perfect person, as half the people who frequent this website seem to believe. Still, I also will not allow myself into believing he is some sort of conniving Malfoy. I just can't judge, because I don't know him. I'm the type of person who tends to give others the benefit of the doubt, and hope that their motives were good rather than ill. Yes, that can get you into trouble sometimes, and it's likely to get you called stupid more than once or twice, but I can't really help it. My hope is that the intent behind this post was perfectly good, but that they just didn't realize the nasty taste it would leave in many of our mouthes. The idea of mixing politics and Potter is not a pleasant one for anyone, I don't think. I am glad that people who were previously unaware of the Darfur situation are now aware. As for...well, I'm not even going to get into the rest of it. Hopefully some good will somehow come of this, and that will make it all worth it.

Well, Vivian, I agree with you completely, but to have a better perspective, you'll have to take a look at history. China today seems to be hitting the equivalent of what the US and the UK experienced during the 1800's: industrialization. During this period of time, both the US and UK's economy skyrocketed and manufacturing increased ten fold. In fact, foreign countries actually bought products made in the US back then, the same as we do now from China. There were no child labor laws let alone unions, so labor was extremely cheap; people were working well over 80 hours a week (today's average is roughly 40) for as little as pennies an hour. Today, in China, the same is happening; inexperienced workers(such as factory workers) can be paid almost nothing and children can be paid even less. In fact, the major reason for importing all of our goods from countries like China and Taiwan is that their are no laws protecting their workers or even a minimum wage. It's just another way for corporate America to increase the amount of product produced and increase the amount of money pouring into the CEO's pockets.

can you put this on facebook....please?

that's dumb. this sudani-darfur conflict has been happening since the end of 2002 and we're barely taking notice of it. why aren't people reading the newspapers? where are they?

wow!!! it is amazing what potter fans can do when we unite. we have love that we can spread around the world. thanks mugglenet 4 eveything u do

Why are we barely taking notice of it? Because our attention is being directed by the press and by politicians. The former hold it in reserve when they don't have any other stories; the latter use it to condemn the present administration, but don't dare talk about it long enough to start any real debate about sending US forces.//Those of us who read other sources have been aware of it for a while. But those other sources are not generally the sort of thing of which Chomsky, or his fans, would approve.//By the way, have you read that Indonesia is slowly but successfully dealing with Islamic rebels who have been trying to take over that nation, much like the janjaweed are trying to take over Darfur? It's been going on for decades, but it really got hot a few years ago. Check strategypage.com for the history. Find an old copy of _A Quick and Dirty Guide to War_ by Dunnigan and Bay (of StrategyPage) to go back further. (There's about a ten-year gap between the third edition and the web, unfortunately. It's about understanding world conflict, not about making war.)

...People are always taking things to mean what they want them to mean. Does anyone care enough about the truth to put aside their own needs?

It is really sad to read that people can be against this idea. The reason these attrocities are allowed to happen is because of people who turn their backs and say we shouldn't mix this with that. PEOPLE WAKE UP.... The world is in a very fragile place and if we do not band together and fight injustice then we are just as bad as the villians acting out those injustices. The greatest heroes are those who don't turn a blind eye on the problem, but confront them head on. Anyone foolish enough to say, "this does not belong here" is an ignorant fool. I am not trying to flame on anyone person, but it angers me greatly to see a response like that to such a noble cause. I applaude Mugglenet for supporting this event.

What a great idea...thank you so much mugglenet for putting it up here. I agree with you jt, how can ANYONE be against this? I mean stuff like genocide, poverty...that's NOT politics. That's people. People come first.

jt7377: Oh, so you support the war in Iraq. Okay. And I'm assuming the same is true of every single other person who's said, "Yay, fun idea!!! :)))" about this.

paradou: who said anything about the war in Iraq... And this is an effort to denounce violence, including that terrible war. You may want to actually read what I wrote before responding in such an assine manner.

this is great and all, and i think it's wonderful you all want to help, but it would help a great deal more if you joined Amnesty International, rather than mixing a childs book with something so horrific. at Amnesty International we do a lot in the way of Darfur, and many other places as well. you should all check it out some time

This sounds like a really awesome charity. It's much better than hypocritical Amnesty International. And, hello? Harry Potter!!!! You can't get much better than that!

somebody said "and I hate both the Democratic and Republican party. Party politics ruined our country just like George Washington said it would." toward the top of the page, and I must agree with them, as well as adding that it is very sad that people are turning this into a left vs. right debate when clearly that doesn't matter when people are being inhumanely killed. And I would much rather support this cause that Amnesty International because they support the killing of babies, and that is just darn hypocritical. I didn't read the Myspace page, about Lord Waldemort or whatever that was about, and I think that boycotting walmart doesn't help, considering how my (poor) family is able to get cheap stuff there, and I know for a fact that they employ many people who badly need the money to support their families. It is my hope and prayer that we can all put away any "hidden agendas--" in this and any other charities-- and band together to discourage and reverse horrible situations such as genocide (all over the world), regardless of political views, religion-- any of that stuff. We all need to put away any pre-judgements that we have, and get to work! Because what can any of us do when we are bickering over where to buy toaster ovens and political parties? Certainly not help the people that need it most. And even if they did bring it upon themselves, that doesn't mean we should just ignore them. Even if there is one innocent person in the entire region (and I do believe that there are so many more), we still need to do something to help even just that one person.