be well informed

I've known about the war in Uganda/Central Africa for a while now.  Before I had a blog... 

but this is big.

http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/

and then http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html

I encourage you to watch the movie and read the criticism and then the response to it.  Follow all of the links, they are all interesting. Then, form your own opinions.  Do something or do nothing.  Either way, I am a fan of being well informed.  Know what is going on in the world around you.  Realize what people are going through to change it.



Oh, I want to reach out and make it stop.  I want to give everyone a home and a family.  I want them to have hope for the future and an education to make it happen.  I want them to have the tools to become self reliant.  I want to take their hands and guide them to a happier life.  I hate seeing people in pain. 


But- remember when Osama Bin Laden died?  Everybody was so excited and happy- "finally he is dead!  the world is a better place!"  I don't like that.  The death of one person should not be a cause for rejoice.  Should Kony be stopped? Absolutely.  Should we want God to smite him with fire and brimstone?  Should Joseph Kony feel the pain that he has inflicted on generations of African children?  Should we slaughter him without remorse?  No. Thankfully, it is not our place to do so. 


I think we must remember that, once Kony is gone (and Kony's cronies), there are thousands of men and women who have gone through decades of terror.  Nobody can replace what was taken from them.  We cannot erase years of abuse.  There will be mental instability among these abductees.  What skill sets do these soldiers have?  What education level?  What hope can we give them after Kony is gone? I don't know what we can do for them.  Can we do anything?  They have been trained to have no remorse.  Violence does not phase them.  They are fantastic hit-men.  Many of them probably do not form emotional ties for fear of having to sever them.  How do you reconnect the dis-connected? 

Social workers- Trauma specialists- psychiatrists- doctors- volunteers- care packages....I'm sorry.  No.

Temple in Ghana

The only answer I see is God.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints would bring humanitarian aid, education and training, a way to self-reliance, peace, hope, knowledge of heaven... you can say to a kid that had to kill their parents "You can have your family forever and they will love you, they will not hate you for everything you have done.  You can have the power to bring them together."   I can think of nothing that could heal that mind than this belief.

Invisible Children is sending some of the kids to school....
Shropshire Music Foundation can teach them to play the pennywhistle- they can whistle away their heartache.....
The UN will continue providing handouts...

But- music does not speak to everyone the same way, not everyone in a society can be doctors and lawyers and politicians...you need basic skills so that you aren't dependent on entities handing you things.

I have no doubt that Kony will be removed.  I don't know about this year, but it will happen.  People are stepping up; but I can't see many people that would or could do so when he is gone and there are tens of thousands of broken people left to pick up the pieces of their lives.

If they knew what I know, they would live in comfort and hope as I do.  But you can't microwave Faith....or peace....or independent living...or healing.... There is a way, but it takes a lifetime.

Only Him

In conclusion- I am an idealist.  When Kony is gone, The Church should try to take Africa by storm.
The end.