If you've found yourself caught up in confusion about the recent "Kony 2012" video released by the Invisible Children group, you're not alone. The video is a plea to the public of the United States, asking them to petition the U.S. government to team up with the Ugandan government to catch warlord Joseph Kony. Upon online release of this video, many response videos were recorded and shared, claiming that Invisible Children's video is incorrect, that Americans have no place to "set things right" for Ugandans and that there may be secret motives for the U.S. government to back this video as propaganda.
As Americans, do we have a responsibility to catching all of the "bad guys" out there? If we ignore it, are we allowing more children to be abducted, raped, beaten and trained to kill?
As a follower of Jesus, can one justify a military presence in Uganda? Are army "advisers" there to help infiltrate peacefully and capture Kony, or are they joining the Ugandan army in using force to do so?
Like many folks who've been brought to attention by this media controversy, I, too, am looking for the truth in the matter. What's the best way to discover what actually happens in a country half-way across the globe?
Eyewitnesses.
We can trust those who've been there and experienced the turmoil in Uganda to tell the truth and get down to the bottom of this matter, bringing possible peaceful solutions to the table.
A good friend of mine has been there. Phil spent a semester abroad in Uganda, and fell in love with Suzan. He had to return to Pennsylvania after the semester ended, but he returned for another three months to marry her and spend time with her family and community. Suzan has recently joined him here, in the U.S., and they're working together to file for dual citizenship for the both of them.
In short, Phil wrote a great article from his and her perspective on the "Kony 2012" video, and I think you should read it. It brought me some great clarification on the true situation, and it may do the same for you.
The Invisible Story Behind Invisible Children - Phil Wilmot
2 comments:
I think this is another example of our collective conscience for plenty of foreign-affairs issues: Should we always play big brother? How can we help when we don't know what we are funding? If we train a military, will it be used for good or for evil? And who determines what exactly the value of those purposes is?
It is hard to turn the other way when there is so much advertising, when those with money and influence throw them both around because something sounds activist. And yet it is so easy to turn the other way when people on our own streets are suffering. There are kids blocks from me who can't read, kids in Aaron's classroom who are hungry.
What makes atrocities abroad more important than the despair of those immediately around us? Should we feel bad for giving to the food bank instead of writing to our senators? I don't know how to justify all of it. :-/
The whole "Kony 2012" thing does seem to attract a lot of "activists" in our generation, because - if you've seen the video - it wraps up emotion, political activism and helping kids all into a boxed kit with great graphic design and a cool t-shirt. It allows people to think they're helping children by easily sending in money, instead of walking two blocks to the local soup kitchen to serve or to tutor the local kids who can't read.
For my friend Phil, Uganda has become "local." It's his second home now, since he's lived there and his wife is a Ugandan woman. The two of them see the true problems their country is facing, and right now Kony is not a problem, but the Ugandan government violently taking over farmers' land is. Phil & Suzan are currently working with a group called Northern Operations for Transformational Education (NOTE), whose goal is to equip farmers to take nonviolent action to protect their families and their land (which is their livelihood). I find it innovative and exciting. :)
http://solidarityuganda.weebly.com/index.html
However, they don't have a big, fancy website or a dramatic Internet video to promote their project. Nor are they asking for assistance from U.S. senators. Would the U.S. Army partner with peasants to resist the Ugandan Army?
Personally, I've taken interest in the current situation that NOTE is pursuing in Northern Uganda, because I have friends whose home is there, and they're directly involved. I find it kind of difficult to justify Invisible Children's attempts (writing to U.S. senators for the sake of Ugandans), as they seem to all be from distanced U.S. citizens.
I think that most people have a heartfelt desire to give back through different charities and missions. Obviously, helping or donating at any level (locally to internationally) will benefit somebody. Personally, I have found inspiration in reading your monthly charity blogs, Mon. :) We can make a difference in folks' lives in Guatemala, Pennsylvania or Denver. However, if we commit time, energy and love to people in our own towns, how much can we build our own communities? Yes, we can donate and travel abroad to help people; but if we give our time and tutor children, spend time with the elderly, and babysit for the single mother, we can truly build a joyful community where love and grace abound from one family to the next.
Perhaps loving our local community will someday take place where our focus is now on foreign affairs.
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