This is a link to a video that is roughly 30 minutes long by Jason Russell, which is lengthy, but well worth it. Take the time to view it and ponder it. If you're too busy to watch the video now, but want to continue reading, here's the point: it's the movie Blood Diamonds in real life. Never seen the movie? Go get it at the library. Seriously. And just a warning, it's a tear-jerker. Now you may continue reading:
I will be the first to admit that I hate when people shove things down my throat and tell me what I should support and what I should donate to, but I'm about to do the same thing. You would understand why if you watched the video.
I cannot even begin to fathom the idea of this happening to our children, neighbors, friends, family, let alone in the United States at all. This is one of the saddest things I've ever come in contact with. These children are being ripped away from their families and are being forced to kill, mutilate, and humiliate innocent people.
In the video, at about 15 minutes and 30 seconds is wonderful moment. Russell says, "Where you live shouldn't determine if you live." Amen, brother. That is so powerful. I can't imagine being afraid to sleep at night or afraid to wake up in the morning and see which of my friends were missing. Children deserve to grow up free of fear.
"WE HAVE TO CARE, WE HAVE TO KNOW," another powerful quote from the video. Without the people in the United States creating a stir about the issue, the government will not continue to help. In October of 2011, eight years after Russell and his friends started their campaign to stop Kony, President Obama sent 100 American Advisors to Uganda in order help train and equip the soldiers there, so they will be able to track Kony and stop him. If we stop caring about the issue, the government will too. And as much as I've disagreed with President Obama's stand point and agenda, I love him for this. It's just so terrible that as a Power Nation, we could only spare a mere 100 soldiers. One hundred. There are over 30,000 child soldiers working for Kony. Boys are made into soldiers and little girls are made into sex slaves. Can you imagine this happening in your own community? We need to make the government and politicians of our country see that this is a cause worth fighting for, "not for self-defense, but because it's right."
We are shaping human history by drawing attention to Joseph Kony. By making him famous, we are showing the world what he is doing and that it needs to be stopped. Personally, I have taken the opportunity to purchase a bracelet from the organization that was only ten dollars (11.95 with shipping). My money will go to the cause of spreading this terrible story so that we as a whole can try to end it. If you don't want to spend twelve dollars on a bracelet, I ask you to donate one dollar. Just one dollar. Or even better, if you're a college student skip your Starbucks for one day, and donate that four dollars to the cause. And if that's too much to ask, cause you need your caffeine fix, just visit www.kony2012.com to sign the pledge and help to spread the justice.
Thanks for reading. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment