(When I publish long posts, my blog likes to spontaneously change the fonts on me. It has a mind of it's own. Don't mind the font variations.)
People are always so appalled by what they see going on in the world. For example, the crisis going on in Northern Uganda with the rebel Lord's Resistance Army. It has been going on since 1986, and has caused widespread insecurity and humanitarian catastrophes in northern Uganda and the neighboring countries of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic. It's known as the Invisible War. Children are being ripped from their homes, and forced to become child soldiers. Nine-year old boys are given guns, to defend a rebel army, by force. We read this and see pictures and just think, oh what a shame that those types of things are happening in the world, I wish I could do something about it. For many of us, that's where the thought ends. I wish.
People are intimidated by the issues going on in the world, so much that it pushes them into a hole where they believe that they alone cannot do anything about it. Thinking things like, I can't get involved in something like that, it's too complicated. If that were the mindset of everyone in the world, since the beginning of ever, where would we be? I'd rather not imagine it.
"In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.
After returning to the States, they created the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda.s night commuters and child soldiers.
The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, "How can I help?" To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc. was created, giving compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation."
These boys were influenced by what they encountered, and motivated by the situation enough to actually to do something. The step many of us cut short at. Their care and their drive to help allowed them to establish this non-profit organization that has grown tremendously in the past seven years and has already helped the suffering countries. Isn't that…awesome?
On that note, if you know of an issue that really bothers you when you hear about it, or that your really passionate about, or if your classrooms are really cold and you wish you could get a regulated heating system seeing that you're paying 45K to be there, say something. It takes one voice to say something, and all ears will listen. Then you actually have to put some effort, but hey! It's rewarding.
Someone once said that you can't change the world, but you can change yourself. In changing the world, your changing people one by one. So by changing yourself, you've already started to change the world. Confusing, but it makes sense. =D
So get out there and do something! (That's motivating)
To learn more about Invisible Children and the Invisible War, click here.
