Another Contribution to the KONY 2012 Discussion.

Before I make the giant leap into the mass Invisible Children discourse, I have to provide a disclaimer to assure that my words are not interpreted out of the context of what I believe: I am NOT on either side. I am NOT anti-Invisible Children, nor am I an advocate for many of their campaigns. The volunteers, staff, and supporters of Invisible Children with whom I have interacted are some of the most passionate, caring, and strong-willed individuals I have had the pleasure of meeting. In many respects, Invisible Children has had a profoundly positive effect on the development of Northern Uganda for the last ten years. But over the last few years I have noticed that something is off. There seems to be this strictly linear equation implemented into the ideology of Invisible Children and their followers: social media + trendiness = “change the world” (which is currently probably the trendiest statement in existence). This equation can also be reversed: change the world + social media = trendiness. These equations have drawn a very vague line between those who yearn to see legitimate, sustainable change, and those who want thousands of friends to like their status.

Because Invisible Children has drawn this line so faintly, it’s impeccably easy to find yourself on the trendy side. That’s exactly where I was. And often times I still find myself there. I want to be a part of a movement. I want to be admired for fighting off the oppressors and appreciated for bringing justice to the world. And it wasn’t until I was asked very specific questions about myself and social justice that this line was even revealed. But I learned that it is crucial to recognize that this way of thinking makes these movements more about me than anyone else. KONY 2012 is often just tagline for individualized self-promotion. I know this because I used THE RESCUE for the same purpose three years ago. But if we are going to see a dramatic shift in the direction of Uganda, then we cannot afford to overlook our own social and emotional biases from the issue itself. We have connected them, and we must recognize the connection and figure out our own crap before we can enter into the realm of Ugandan social justice because it goes much deeper than Kony.

QUESTIONS

Both myself and my family has spent a significant amount of time living in Uganda, and in our time there we learned very quickly that in order to find ourselves ever promoting any kind of sustainable change within the communities, we have to ask questions first. A lot of questions. And the troubling aspect of this KONY 2012 movement is that the overwhelmingly controlling question of the campaign is “How do we get rid of Kony?” And people are blindly following this thought without any question. I fully agree that Kony is an awful man who has done awful awful things, but if you ever want to see legitimate change in Uganda, a lot more questions are to be asked, such as…

1. - Who is the President of Uganda? What is he like?

2. - Why does he support Invisible Children?

3. - Why did Joseph Kony start a rebel army 26 years ago?

4. - Why do you support Invisible Children? (Think of something different aside from “I want to change the world” and “saving African children.”)

5. - What happens after Kony is dead?

WE ALL WANT JUSTICE. We all want Uganda to see drastic change. But in order for this to happen we must start asking different questions. We must look at the root of the issues, because the fact of the matter is that as long as there is a President like Yoweri Musevini in office, there will always be men like Joseph Kony trying to overthrow them. Although I love the hearts and intentions of IC, I think they have a very surface level approach to issues of justice and consequently ignore and even SUPPORT more fundamental issues that pervade the entire country of Uganda with corruption and injustice.

Did you know that Musevini has had thousands of peaceful protestors tier gassed, and brutally beaten for walking to work instead of driving in protest rising gas prices? Did you know that Musevini has had many opposing party leaders beaten and imprisoned under false claims? Did you know that when the UK gave 70 million euros of financial aid to the country, Musevini spent 30 MILLION OF IT on a private jet while the entire country is facing devastating economic poverty? Did you know that during election season he openly bribes millions of citizens for their votes with a bag of rice? Did you know that the people are scared to speak about him in public because they are afraid of being killed? Did you know that Uganda’s military, the force which Invisible Children openly supports, has been countlessly accused of acts of rape and looting? (Oyston, Grant). Did you know that Kony’s intentions have always been to overthrow the Ugandan government? Like I said, Kony is an awful awful man who has done awful awful things that God can only forgive, but his Hitler-like celebrity status has indirectly awarded Musevini with a badge of honor and a pat on the back for putting up strong fight against Kony, and consequently, his actions are ignored. Unfortunately, culture and politics are the roots of this pervasive issue and if we view the country with strict, narrowly focused tunnel vision fixed upon Kony, then Uganda will never see the peace that they hope for.

Injustice is an infection that has spread throughout Uganda without any intention of healing itself. But the healing that is necessary will not come from killing Kony, nor will it come from you or me. We are only trendy bandaids put over an amputated leg. The true healing will come from the people of Uganda. Healing will come when we humbly accept our role as servants not saviors. We have yet to explore the possibility that the people of Uganda are fully capable of bringing justice to their country in the ways that they see fit. Our only purpose is to come alongside them, listen to them, and support them in their process of leading their country out of their brokenness.

A Good Ol Village Visit

Isaac

Two and a half years ago I took my first trip to this beautiful country, forever changing the way I view life through the experiences and relationships that she graciously offered to me. There was one friendship in particular that my friends and I still share stories about. His name is Isaac. Two and a half years ago we spent a week doing construction in a local village, Mbiko, but we high schoolers on the trip didn't do a tone of the construction part of it. We were way too eager to spend time with the people and learn from their culture and way of life... and well... let's just be honest we really just wanted to play with the kids.

We spent hours at the football field (soccer field, but I'm trying to get in the habit of using the term that the ENTIRE rest of the world uses for the sport) at the top of the village playing, laughing, running, talking, and eating waaayyyy too much sugar cain (which we picked from the local fields) for our own good. There was one particular teenager that got our attention, mostly because he kept offering Steph Rocco and Kelly McBride more and more chickens, goats, and cows for either's hand in marriage, but when we sat down to really discuss this boys life he could not stop expressing his desire to have an education and his love for art, but wasn't able attend school because his family could not afford the expense. This, unfortunately, is the status of thousands of children in this area. Kelly and Steph went back determined. After talking to various people back in California they found a sponsor for Isaac! And that was the last I ever heard of this kid. I knew he was safe, sound, and educated because he was sponsored, but I had no idea of his whereabouts and frankly thought I would never see him again...

... Until he showed up at our front door today. What was supposed to be a quick visit to ask my mom a simple question about his sponsorship turned into 2 and a half hours of catching up and discussing his passion for art. Over and over he would say "I've missed you all so much! I thought I'd never see you again, How is Kelly? and Stephanie? I thank them so much for finding me sponsor!" It seemed a if every five minutes he expressed his surprise to see me and with great joy, the feeling was mutual. He poured out his love for art and painting and the spark it ignited in his soul. And when he pulled out all of his drawings from his bag, his face expressed the same excitement that came from a 5 year old telling his mother he learned how to ride his bike with no training wheels. It is both his escape and his connection to the world around him. It's his way to release the pain, frustrations, and joy; and also to connect with and analyse the details of the world that no one else may see so easily.

And let's just be honest, it was pretty cool having him remember all of us after all this time and on Thursday he is taking me back to his village to see some old friends there. Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked about Isaac.

For all you Californians

Well, I've been in Uganda 6 days now so this post is long over due. Since the moment I stepped foot on to the plane heading straight for good ol' LAX I knew that writing this was not only a desire of mine, but a necessity. It's necessary for me to take the time to write about the importance of community and the blessing it has been in my life. I don't speak of necessity as if it's a burden to my time or as if it's something that I HAVE to do, but after dedicating a week to a community that can't be described as anything other than spell-binding - I feel that each day spent with out writing a proper 'Thank You' would just be terrible manners... and quite frankly almost an insult to such community.



I just realized that if you read that last bit with a English accent it will sound much more fitting.



Anyways!... So I made it. I finally made my way back the place that fed me such beautiful instability in my way of viewing the world. The only place I've ever been tempted to call home after only 2 weeks. The place that I've considered my lifeline to sanity (or what many of you have once viewed as insanity) for the past two and a half years: Jinja, Uganda! and for the first time in all my my visits here - I miss home.

It's cliche and can be a total cop-out, but honestly, after a spending a week back in Danville I realized the full extent of the importance of these people in my life. Now, people have been telling me for years that I will barely keep in touch with friends from high school and I approached the first three years of my high school career with that attitude that reflected those words, but after witnessing many other high school and post high school communities I realized that there was something special to mine. My life hasn't really ever been considered a path of stability - mostly of my own doing... actually... completely of my own doing, but anyways, through all this all-over-the-place-ness that is my life I can rest in knowing that those crazy Californians will always provide a place to call home. There is a strength in both integrity and in unity through out my group of friends back home that I find to be very unique (and that's also coming from some outsiders perspectives too) and that will never go unappreciated. So, in every sense of the phrase - thank you, Danvillites for being the best/strongest/most unique/most definitely most ridiculous community I've ever had the blessing of being a part of. I could sit here for hours ranting my insane love and respect for ya'll.



www.axisofdville.com/thatincludesanyoneindanvilleiveeverthrownafrisbeewith/thatsalotoffreakinpeople.hellamobbinfornightsdays.hella/imissyallmorethanamberwouldmisspeoplecallingherprettyiftheystoppedformorethanfiveminutes.



Also! I want to make a big shout out to our favorite Lebanese wonders of the world and Mamma and Pappa bear and all their atterbear cubs - I couldn't be more thankful for ya'll being gracious enough to host me as a part of your families last week. If there's anything you need from me - do not hesitate for an instant to let me know how I can be of service. I'll always be there for ya'll in whatever you need just as you have been for me. If any of you lovely readers ever cross paths with a member of either of these two families - just attack them with a hug and say it's from me.

Too tired to actually think.

Ok, so there's a lot to reflect on and a lot I've learned in the past 3 weeks, but unfortunately Californian and Ugandan schedules have not offered me the courtesy of free time and everytime I sit down at night to write any kind of thoughtful reflection of Denver, California, or Uganda, my eyelids start to feel like deadweights and the humidity starts to take hold over my consciousness.

In shorter words: I have not forgotten about you wonderful readers! There are many topics to be discussed in the near future!

Grace and Peace,
Philly G-Love (name given in courtesy of DJ Ozzy K)

Sam

The Gap Year crew spent the evening at Sam's house. We watched a movie, ate dinner, talked about life... Normal, right? Wrong. Sam and his family reside in West Denver which a predominately hispanic/low-income section of the city. From the outside he is a stereotype - even he will attest to that. His appearance molds perfectly to just about every one of our stereotype images of a hispanic gang member. I'm only speaking truth because I mean, if we're truly honest with ourselves - we all have that stereotype image in the back of our heads. But what most would not guess is that he is also a man of brilliance, compassion, committment and strength like that of which I rarely see. That... AND he has one of the sickest low-riders I've ever seen.

Him and his homies had us over for dinner tonight so that we may stand in a community where the unthinkable happens. Where violence is in an inevitable part of their week; a place where cops are constantly oppressing the citizens they swore to protect because to them - just about every hispanic male is a molds to a generalization. This is a place where the people work hard, but have little; where they are surrounded by gang activity; where there is so much need, but I can't do a damn thing about it.

After checking out his low-rider car projects, which he put together, and talked about his new idea for designing and marketing a low-rider BMX bike, we went inside to watch a movie called La Mission. This movie was intended to give us a clearer picture of their community and the life they have proudly chosen to embrace. Sam and his family have immerced themselves in this community. It's where he is from, what he knows best, and where he knows he is supposed to be. I could go on about the life of Sam, the people he loves and all those who love him, the way he spends his days, and the amount of respect we owe to men like him, but for the sake of your time I'll just close with what he taught me tonight.

He ended tonight with very powerful words. He said that (not word-for-word) "you guys are about to leave, and maybe never come back, but we... we're here to stay." We were about to leave and put it all behind us, making everything that had happened nothing but a memory, but he was there, in that community, to give all of who he is to the people and to his family. He gave us an invitation to never forget what we had experienced, but to make those moments a part of who we are. His ministry is not with an organization or not profit, it's just being a member of a community - sharing in their pain and in their weaknesses, taking on their burdens - that's his ministry... and his life. It's a lesson that I must carry with me as I enter into so many different communitites this year. I can not walk away from any place without carrying a little piece of them with me. A piece that my keeps my heart breaking for their pain, and rejoicing in their blessings.

Victims

I've realized my heart for victims - people that are oppressed by a higher power working for their own personal gain. Today I saw the impact of a victims story. I'm not allowed to share any specifics due to the fact that details are confidential and considering all of this is online I am not permitted to share much of anything except for the fact that a client of JAMLAC has had their U-Visa approved which allows this family to create a whole new path for themselves. This new ability to achieve citizenship has completely re-shaped the future of this family and all I can say is thank God for the staff at JAMLAC who have invested so much of their love into this family to work through the oppressive immigration system that is set up in our nation.

I witnessed the start of an entirely new direction for an entire family whose past would make any man or woman cringe due to thoughts of how horrifying humans beings can be to one another. I don't really have much more to say - mostly because I can't, but I will say that today I witnessed change - complete irreversible, undeniable, God-driven change in a family and it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.