Editor:
There is a tragedy simmering in Africa between the two Sudans, but it illustrates a tragedy in America also. Back in 1984, oil was discovered in central Sudan and a pipeline was built from the oilfields to Port Sudan on the Red Sea. But then, after two bloody civil wars, South Sudan seceded from the North. Most of the oil deposits are in the South, but the pipeline goes through the North. Unfortunately the two Sudans have not been able to negotiate a revenue-sharing arrangement, so oil is not being pumped and both countries are strapped for cash. Their anger and division is preventing them from benefitting. Can you imagine a new African country sitting on a billion barrel oil field but not getting a cent from it? They need the money to build roads, schools and hospitals, but instead both sides are trying to get tanks and helicopter gunships to fight over the oil.
Some of us might say smugly, What a waste! Those poor African countries just cant work out a compromise to take advantage of an incredible blessing.
But what about us in America? We are blessed too, with incredible wealth in natural and human resources. We are the richest nation in history. And yet our people in Washington are unable to reach an agreement to fix our roads and schools, and to repair our crumbling urban centers. Just like the Sudanese, we are so locked into our anger and political divisions that we are unable to benefit from our blessings.
Let us tell our people in Washington that it is time to quit this nonsense and reach compromises so that we can move ahead. We are a great nation; we can do better.
Bill Jobin
Cortez
Via CortezJournal.com
