Basis for our statement that the
writer of the "Angels in Sudan" episode
said it was "propaganda"

In a September 22 story, Copyright iviews.com, executive producer Martha Williamson, who also wrote the episode, tells how she was approached by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) with the idea of doing a show to influence the passage of his legislation. Among other things, the legislation will funnel US dollars in the direction of SPLA. At its highest level, the SPLA is a Marxist movement. Wal Duany has visited the office of Sen. Brownback, urging him to support the grassroots peace initiative. Whether or not Sen. Brownback is aware of the Marxist leanings of SPLA, I do not know. Nevertheless, he has an agenda and Williamson is aware of it.

We used the word propaganda in our response because it is a "systematic effort to spread opinions or beliefs." If you are uncomfortable with our use of the word propaganda in connection with the Touched By An Angel episode, please substitute wording "By Williamson's own admission, the Touched By An Angel episode was intended to influence the passage of legislation."

Here is the quote from the iviews.com story:

"Martha Williamson, the show's executive producer, said Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and another member of Congress approached her with the idea of doing a show on the subject of Sudan. "They asked me to plant the seed," said Williamson.

Not only did Brownback ask Williamson to do the show, he acted as a consultant to the producers, visited the set as the episode was being filmed, and hosted the show's screening Tuesday night. The screening followed the introduction in July of legislation co-sponsored by Brownback (S. 1453) that, according to materials distributed by the senator's office, will provide food assistance to rebel forces in Southern Sudan and tighten sanctions on the Sudanese government.

"I hope this show stirs action," said Brownback. "There are a number of doors people need to step through to get the Sudan Peace Act approved this session of Congress. I'm asking each of you, as you watch this tonight, to say to yourself, 'I'm going to find out and I'm going to learn how I'm going to push'" for the proposed legislation."

Because people in the United States know little about Sudan's history, peoples, and politics, Sudan's conflict is often over-simplified in news reports. But this is like grasping the elephant by the trunk and saying, "The elephant is a snake." What is happening in Sudan today must be understood in terms of the larger context of issues. These issues may be categorized as

  1. religious

    2.

  2. racial and identity - that is Arab/African

  3. centralization of state power

  4. consequences of British/Egyptian colonial policies.

I have been studying these issues for five years and believe me, they are difficult to sort out.The point of our response to the Touched By An Angel episode is that the best way Americans can help the people of southern Sudan is to support the ongoing peace process. Information about the peace process is on the internet. The links on South Sudanese Friends International's web page are a good place to start. Thank you again for your interest in Sudan and for your concern for the human rights of the Sudanese people.

Sincerely,
Isabel Hogue
October 14, 1999

 
SSFI's mission is to share the love of Jesus Christ with the people of southern Sudan  in a way that leads  them towards peaceful and self-reliant living from the grassroots level, so that available resources will meet the needs of their communities.

Copyright (c) 1999 by SSFI. All rights reserved.