--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We all might ask ourselves why we tune in…" description: "\"We all might ask ourselves why we tune in to these more trivial matters and tune out when it comes to Darfur\" — Nicholas D. Kristof" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/nicholas-d-kristof-4679_darfur_we-all-might-ask-ourselves-why-we-tune-i_2498367.png" --- # We all might ask ourselves why we tune in to these more… ![“We all might ask ourselves why we tune in to these more trivial matters and tune out when it comes to Darfur” quote by Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/nicholas-d-kristof-4679_darfur_we-all-might-ask-ourselves-why-we-tune-i_2498367.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/nicholas-d-kristof-4679_darfur_we-all-might-ask-ourselves-why-we-tune-i_2498367.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/nicholas-d-kristof-4679_darfur_we-all-might-ask-ourselves-why-we-tune-i_2498367.png) > “We all might ask ourselves why we tune in to these more trivial matters and tune out when it comes to Darfur” [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often focus on trivial issues while ignoring serious crises like Darfur, revealing selective attention. **In simple terms:** We ignore big problems for small ones. Key Takeaway Prioritize awareness of major issues. Themes media attention humanitarianism Mood reflective concerned Type journalistic inspirational When to use this quote - news consumption - education - policy advocacy - social media Key Concepts selective perception moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Why do we avoid confronting harsh realities? - How can we shift focus to critical issues? A Different Perspective Trivial topics can be a coping mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darfur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darfur/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) ## Related quotes > [“Mister didn't come with me on cases, being above such trivial matters, but he found me pleasant company when I was at home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/mister-didn-t-come-with-me-on-cases-being-above-such-trivial-matters/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [I discovered a long time ago that writing of the small things of the day, the trivial matters of the heart, the inconsequential but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/i-discovered-a-long-time-ago-that-writing-of-the-small-things-of-the/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [I don't think too seriously about anything, neither does my husband and my son. When we are home, we are constantly laughing over some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-maniratnam/i-don-t-think-too-seriously-about-anything-neither-does-my-husband/) [Suhasini Maniratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-maniratnam/) > [While Americans have heard of Darfur and think we should be doing more there, they aren't actually angry at the president about inaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/while-americans-have-heard-of-darfur-and-think-we-should-be-doing/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [It really is quite remarkable that Darfur has become a household name. I am gratified that's the case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/it-really-is-quite-remarkable-that-darfur-has-become-a-household-name/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [If President Bush is serious about genocide, an immediate priority is to stop the cancer of Darfur from spreading further, which means working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/if-president-bush-is-serious-about-genocide-an-immediate-priority-is/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [The news media's silence, particularly television news, is reprehensible. If we knew as much about Darfur as we do about Michael Jackson, we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-news-media-s-silence-particularly-television-news-is/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [The conflict in Darfur could escalate to where we're seeing 100,000 victims per month](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-conflict-in-darfur-could-escalate-to-where-we-re-seeing-100-000/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [ The report \[by a UN commission on Darfur\] demonstrates beyond all doubt that the last two years have been little short of hell on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-report-by-a-un-commission-on-darfur-demonstrates-beyond-all-doubt/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [No question that the spotlight on Darfur has, for all intents and purposes, disappeared. And that's deeply problematic, because it hasn't disappeared because Darfur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/no-question-that-the-spotlight-on-darfur-has-for-all-intents-and/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [One's own self-worth is tied to the worth of the community to which one belongs, which is intimately connected to humanity in general. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/one-s-own-self-worth-is-tied-to-the-worth-of-the-community-to-which/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [When you are dealing with a mass movement, as opposed to a quote-unquote "elite," you are talking to people who don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-mass-movement-as-opposed-to-a-quote/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [In issues of recent ethnic wars and genocides - particularly if you look at Darfur - one of the most remarkable things is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/in-issues-of-recent-ethnic-wars-and-genocides-particularly-if-you/) [Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/) > [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [There are something like 300 anti-genocide chapters on college campuses around the country. It's bigger than the anti-apartheid movement. There are something like 500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-are-something-like-300-anti-genocide-chapters-on-college/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) ## More by Nicholas D. Kristof > [Random violence is incredibly infectious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/random-violence-is-incredibly-infectious/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [Our national leaders tend to try to protect the national interest as they see it. They may screw up in that, but they at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/our-national-leaders-tend-to-try-to-protect-the-national-interest-as/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [The north of the Central African Republic is now a war zone, with rival armed bands burning villages, kidnapping children, robbing travelers and killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-north-of-the-central-african-republic-is-now-a-war-zone-with/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [Sometimes I wish eastern Congo could suffer an earthquake or a tsunami, so that it might finally get the attention it needs. The barbaric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/sometimes-i-wish-eastern-congo-could-suffer-an-earthquake-or-a/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [Americans of faith should try as hard to save the lives of African women as the lives of unborn fetuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/americans-of-faith-should-try-as-hard-to-save-the-lives-of-african/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [Palestinian militancy has accomplished nothing but increasing the misery of the Palestinian people. If Palestinians instead turned more to huge Gandhi-style nonviolence resistance campaigns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/palestinian-militancy-has-accomplished-nothing-but-increasing-the/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [The news media's silence, particularly television news, is reprehensible. If we knew as much about Darfur as we do about Michael Jackson, we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-news-media-s-silence-particularly-television-news-is/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [It’s time for a 21st-century abolitionist movement in the U.S and around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/it-s-time-for-a-21st-century-abolitionist-movement-in-the-u-s-and/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [The bulk of the emails tend to come after a column. I can get about 2,000 after a column.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-bulk-of-the-emails-tend-to-come-after-a-column-i-can-get-about-2/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [American airstrikes...create risks, especially if our intelligence there is rusty. The crucial step, and the one we should apply diplomatic pressure to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/american-airstrikes-create-risks-especially-if-our-intelligence-there/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [Let me be clear: I'm a believer in a robust military, which is essential for backing up diplomacy. But the implication is that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/let-me-be-clear-i-m-a-believer-in-a-robust-military-which-is/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [Every year 3.1 million Indian children die before the age of 5, mostly from diseases of poverty like diarrhea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/every-year-3-1-million-indian-children-die-before-the-age-of-5-mostly/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [One of the principles of journalism is you don't lie. You never lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/one-of-the-principles-of-journalism-is-you-don-t-lie-you-never-lie/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [You could perhaps better tell the story of a place by writing of a tiny village as a sort of prism into the bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/you-could-perhaps-better-tell-the-story-of-a-place-by-writing-of-a/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [All of a sudden their husband's dead and maybe a child is dead and they have absolutely nothing - and they're heading through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/all-of-a-sudden-their-husband-s-dead-and-maybe-a-child-is-dead-and/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) [Explore all 107 Nicholas D. Kristof quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) ## More Darfur quotes > [There are something like 300 anti-genocide chapters on college campuses around the country. It's bigger than the anti-apartheid movement. There are something like 500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-are-something-like-300-anti-genocide-chapters-on-college/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [In issues of recent ethnic wars and genocides - particularly if you look at Darfur - one of the most remarkable things is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/in-issues-of-recent-ethnic-wars-and-genocides-particularly-if-you/) [Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/) > [When you are dealing with a mass movement, as opposed to a quote-unquote "elite," you are talking to people who don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-mass-movement-as-opposed-to-a-quote/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [One's own self-worth is tied to the worth of the community to which one belongs, which is intimately connected to humanity in general. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/one-s-own-self-worth-is-tied-to-the-worth-of-the-community-to-which/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [No question that the spotlight on Darfur has, for all intents and purposes, disappeared. And that's deeply problematic, because it hasn't disappeared because Darfur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/no-question-that-the-spotlight-on-darfur-has-for-all-intents-and/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [ The report \[by a UN commission on Darfur\] demonstrates beyond all doubt that the last two years have been little short of hell on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-report-by-a-un-commission-on-darfur-demonstrates-beyond-all-doubt/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The news media's silence, particularly television news, is reprehensible. If we knew as much about Darfur as we do about Michael Jackson, we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-news-media-s-silence-particularly-television-news-is/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [“And there’s one other matter I must raise. The epidemic of domestic sexual violence that lacerates the soul of South Africa is mirrored in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-lewis/and-there-s-one-other-matter-i-must-raise-the-epidemic-of-domestic/) [Stephen Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lewis/) > [Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/right-so-you-go-into-darfur-and-you-go-into-south-africa-you-get-rid/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [...in the eyes of her oldest friends and colleagues and extended family, she wasn't a painfully thin seventy-five-year-old gray haired woman dying of cancer-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/in-the-eyes-of-her-oldest-friends-and-colleagues-and-extended-family/) [Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/) > [Rebels in Darfur have learned the value of mobilizing western human rights groups to prolong wars, and this lesson is working gloriously for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/rebels-in-darfur-have-learned-the-value-of-mobilizing-western-human/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Despite the increase in world attention toward Sudan in the past months, the genocide in Darfur has continued without any serious attempt by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-allen/despite-the-increase-in-world-attention-toward-sudan-in-the-past/) [Tom Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-allen/) > [The Coalition for International Justice estimated that 450,000 people in Darfur have died since the deadly genocide began some three years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-meek/the-coalition-for-international-justice-estimated-that-450-000-people/) [Kendrick Meek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-meek/) > [Almost 30 years before Rwanda, before Darfur, more than 2 million people – mothers, children, babies, civilians – lost their lives as a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-30-years-before-rwanda-before-darfur-more-than-2-million/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 59 Darfur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darfur/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We all might ask ourselves why we tune in to these more trivial matters and tune out when it comes to Darfur", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas D. 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