The slave and comments that include profanity’s slave raids

International groups of Good Samaritans travel to the Sudan-Darfur
region to offer help to slaves who now have nowhere else to go.

Some of the group of slaves being helped by abolitionists raise their
hands after Dr. John Eibner of CSI International asked how many of
them had been beaten by their masters. (Tamara Banks, Special to The
Denver Post)

Led by the Arab/Dinka Peace Committee, they had walked south for
miles, and for days, on their journey to freedom. Many gave up. Those
who persevered waited under the tree for four days, and were now
nearing the end of their excruciating journey.

The grassroots group in Sudan invited CSI to join them in their
efforts to bring slaves back home.

“In 1995, we first encountered the reality of the slave raids in a
powerful way,” said Dr. John Eibner, who heads the teams of two or
three CSI members who go into Sudan every month to deliver
humanitarian aid, medicine, sorghum, survival kits and assistance in
returning slaves to their families. “The NGO’s [non-governmental
organizations] that were there had moved out, the Red Cross failed to
go in to help because the government of Sudan said no. So, the
international community allowed itself to be dictated to by the
government of Sudan that was responsible for the slave raiding.”

Among those on this trip were Eibner, an American, and Gunnar
Wiebalck, a German, who have made a career of shining a bright light
on social injustice, including working on the abolishment of apartheid
in South Africa. “Because the rest of the world was not — and
still is not — dealing with this issue of slavery, which is a
crime against humanity according to international law, we thought we
should come back and help this local, grassroots mechanism for getting
enslaved women and children back,” Eibner said.

“This abolitionist work fuels my passion to see each slave freed,” she
added. “There are still tens of thousands in slavery. I will not
abandon them.”

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“Love Marriage” tells the story of the way Sri Lankan politics affect
a family living in the United States. The story takes Yalini and her
family from suburban America to Toronto, where they are reunited with
an uncle who has left Sri Lanka after a life of militancy with the
Tamil Tigers. The book is about specific characters, not
representatives of a culture. Still, I had to do my homework to write
it, so I did become versed in some history. Add to that the fact that
my parents emigrated to the United States from Sri Lanka, and it makes
some sense for reading audiences, reporters and others to ask me
questions about the country.

Some people do, I’m sure. At readings around the country, I’ve met Sri
Lankans, immigrants and their children, who thank me for writing about
the conflict. But while I’m proud of my book, it certainly doesn’t
represent the voices of all Sri Lankans. It’s the story of one family.
Still, I know that some people at my readings may never hear much more
about Sri Lanka than what I say. All I can do is try to understand why
these questions are asked, be as reasonable and careful in my answers
as I can, clarify that I am a novelist and emphasize that I am only
one person answering — while still being as complete and thorough as
possible.

As a novelist, I should be free to write about whatever I want,
without worrying about the political significance people will attach
to it. Indeed, writing fiction means that I have license to diverge
from historical facts. It shouldn’t be my responsibility if some
readers have little knowledge of Sri Lanka beyond what they read in my
book or hear me say as a guest on a radio show. I also know, however,
that regardless of the caveats I put before what I say, my words may
carry the weight of an imagined community.

Orientalist, Historian, Political Scientist, Dr. Megalommatis, 51, is
the author of 12 books, dozens of scholarly articles, hundreds of
encyclopedia entries, and thousands of articles. He speaks, reads and
writes more than 15, modern and ancient, languages. He refuted Greek
nationalism, supported Martin Bernal´s Black Athena, and rejected the
Greco-Romano-centric version of History. He pleaded for the European
History by J. B. Duroselle, and defended the rights of the Turkish,
Pomak, Macedonian, Vlachian, Arvanitic, Latin Catholic, and Jewish
minorities of Greece. Born Christian Orthodox, he adhered to Islam
when 36, devoted to ideas of Muhyieldin Ibn al Arabi. Greek citizen
of Turkish origin, Prof. Megalommatis studied and/or worked in Turkey,
Greece, France, England, Belgium, Germany, Syria, Israel, Iraq, Iran,
Egypt and Russia, and carried out research trips throughout the Middle
East, Northeastern Africa and Central Asia. His career extended from
Research & Education, Journalism, Publications, Photography, and
Translation to Website Development, Human Rights Advocacy, Marketing,
Sales & Brokerage. He traveled in more than 80 countries in 5
continents. He defends the Right of Aramaeans, Oromos, Ogadenis,
Sidamas, Berbers, Afars, Anuak, Darfuris, Bejas, Balochs and Tibetans
to National Independence, demands international recognition for
Kosovo, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Transnistria,
calls for National Unity in Somalia, and denounces Islamic Terrorism.

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