On June 5, 2002 America was shaken by a story that was flooding the news. A 14 year old girl was abducted straight out of her bed. Nine months later Elizabeth Smart was found alive in the custody of her abductors badly shaken and with stories most wish to not hear. Viewers were glued to the tv trying to imagine what it was like to be taken out of a place we normally feel so safe. Our homes, our beds, it's where we feel most comfortable. A bad breakup? We go to our beds. Sick? We go to our beds. How could this happen to a little girl. America wanted to punish who had taken her. The world wanted justice.
Now imagine with me that there are over a 100,000 children taken out of their beds just like Elizabeth but instead of being taken and found alive 9 months later they are taken and never seen again. They are forced to pick up guns and join a cause they never really understood... at 6 years old what cause do you really understand? Imagine, a little girl being continuously raped by a group of men and passed around like a rag doll. Now imagine that this is going on for 45 years and you finally have a glimpse of the horror of what has been going on in Uganda.
Kony 2012. It's all over the internet... the video, posters, pictures, arguments, it's the latest "charlie bit my finger" video. With 79 million views in the last week I think it's an understatement to say it's gone viral. However, sadly unlike charlie with this video comes scrutiny. Invisible Children is an organization that has been around since 2003 when a group of young people went to Uganda to discover the horror that was occurring with the LRA and it's ring leader Joseph Kony. The truth of the matter is that over the past 45 years Kony has been the tyrant that haunts our dreams. The LRA is the longest continuing rebel force in existence. Children have been ripped out of their homes and the only way they have to avoid it is to continuously move and try to become... invisible. And to the world they were just that they were the invisible children of Africa. No one had any idea this was going on. While I was growing up with my barbies and my brother was running around playing "battle" with his friends, boys his age were living it and little girls my age were the dolls.
In the first video the boys introduced us to Jacob. A boy who wanted to grow up and be a lawyer but didn't have the money to go to school. Then he told us the story of his brother, who was taken by the LRA and killed. My heart broke for it. I remember watching "Band of Brothers" and the episode "Why we fight" and thinking how could the people in the city around the concentration camp smell that, hear the cries, and see what was going on and do nothing? We try to blame it on ignorance. "It was a different time" "we had no idea what was going on, on this side of the world." Ok. What's our excuse now?
The criticisms that come with "invisible children" and Kony 2012 are numerous. Many argue that the organization only donates 35% of it's profits to the actual organization. A fact that my research has sadly confirmed. Many argue that we have our own problems in America to deal with and we shouldn't be fighting other's battles. An argument that makes me more sad then any other. Have we fallen so far from our Christian roots that this is what we believe? That we are divided by our location rather then united by our humanity? I guess this could be the argument for the Holocaust as well, they are the Jews in other countries... let's fight our war and leave them for others. Millions are dying but they are not our millions. Some argue that nothing can be done to stop him.
Here is what it comes down to. Will donating money to "Invisible Children" do anything? Apparently not as much as you would hope. Should you do it anyway? If this is something you are passionate about then yes. You are donating it in hopes that this will be donated to them. Will it go to them? Who knows? Who knows where our money ever goes? It's not ours to start of with. Everything is God's. I personally, will probably not be donating money towards this organization because it bothers me but I don't condemn those who do. It IS our battle because our battle is stop injustice. Our battle is to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves... but along with that we need to understand that we are not the knights in shining armor to the poor helpless African people. History has proven that African's are anything but helpless, they are fully capable people. However, similar to other genocide's it's not about playing hero's, it's about doing what is right.
Can we stop him? Can I stop him? Yes. Am I just one person, yes... but to quote Finding Neverland "'He can't climb that mountain, he's just a man', or 'That's not a diamond, it's just a rock.' Just." We may be just one but just one voice combined with others can make a beautiful choir. One person armed with a shofar and a cause can tear down walls with God on our side.
We can't be ignorant to think that capturing Joseph Kony will stop this or the LRA. He is one man and this is an organization and a rebel group that is far beyond him. But stopping him is the start. And stopping him comes with making him known and raising awareness on what is going on.
This video may be annoying you... it may frusterate you to no end the ignorance of some thinking that buying a 30 dollar kit will end a war that is nearly 50 years old and stretches to complications we will never fully understand. However, it is forcing a generation that is all about texting, reality tv shows, partying, social media, and their dreams to look beyond themselves. I am seeing my generation join together for a cause. And despite every argument I cannot find a fault in that.
You are one person, but you are one person with a voice. Use it. Don't go buy the 30 dollar kit and sneak out in the middle of the night on April 20th and join others in "blanketing" the city with Kony if it isn't something you agree with. But do not condemn those who want to fight injustice and play their part. Click share on the Kony 2012 video... it's raising awareness... it's forcing us to look beyond ourselves and it takes two seconds. Do not let apathy be our biggest enemy. So many battles have to be fought and so many are suffering and it can often be overwhelming but we can do it... with strength not our own.
