Another day, another deeply troubling issue needing immediate attention added to the pile of deeply troubling issues needing immediate attention in the newest country in the world.

Another day, another deeply troubling issue needing immediate attention added to the pile of deeply troubling issues needing immediate attention in the newest country in the world.

Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a most charming, gracious and humble man from Juba in South Sudan here in New York to "listen, learn, shake many hands and glean the full promises from the empty ones."

The Republic of South Sudan is the newest country in the world and I have become quite enamored with this "little country that could" especially as I read all the myriad issues surrounding this tiny troubled country. 

The emails that Magbula sends me are fascinating as the issues range from dividing oil fields and teaching the new national anthem to all citizens to developing a postal system and establishing a football team for London in 2012. The less fascinating and more horrifying are the continuing border skirmishes, the near total lack of an infrastructure and abject poverty.
I couldn't help but look back to my impromptu portrait session with my new friend...a tribal elder whose life has been spent caring for his people and whose countenance on this day reflects that of an entire nation.