Biting back my tongue -
Biting back one's tongue is not the easiest thing to do. Even James the half-brother of Jesus says that "no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8)." The tongue is so often the source of criticism, blame, judgement, condemnation, anger and hurt. And then a second, minute or hour later it is the source of blessing, encouragement, prayer and joy (James 3:9-10). And for so many of us (myself included), that is exactly how our tongue is. That is exactly our way of speaking. And it makes biting one's tongue seem impossible. Too difficult. Not worth it. And so things are said. Whether they should be or not.
I have been trying to bite back my tongue. And tonight, I am giving up. I am going to say what I have been wanting to say for awhile now. And I am going to attempt to do it in an appropriate way. And by "appropriate" I don't mean my choice of language. But rather my sense of self-righteousness and attitude not interfering with what I feel the need to say.
With that little introduction written -
Ignorance on world issues really makes me angry. I am not saying that I am the most well-read or informed person on world issues. In fact, I am greatly lacking at times because I get too frustrated with trying to find the best sources or trying to sift through the personal opinion on various things and just end up giving up (this mainly has to pertain to my hatred for politics). But when it comes to certain issues (i.e. sex trafficking, adoption, child labor and child soldiers), I have done a lot of research both for school and for personal interest/conviction. I do not claim to be an expert in these areas by any stretch of the imagination. And I do not claim to know every little detail there is to know.
But... I have at least tried to learn, understand and sort through information because I believe that knowledge and wisdom is supreme. And that it's worth everything I give it - time, money, thought, etc. (Proverbs 4:7). I believe that knowing what's going on in my world is important and therefore, not something I should just shrug off or ignore or be ignorant of. I am first and foremost a Christian and therefore I know that this is not my home, that I am not supposed to be engulfed and characterized by the world. But I am a citizen of the United States. I am a human being. I am a part of this world and therefore have a right and a duty to know what is going on. And that is why I have tried to study, to research, to understand. And that is why I am writing now.
Like I said above, ignorance on world issues makes me angry. This post and my current anger is stemming from all of the debates and discussions on the new Kony2012 Campaign that was launched by the Invisible Children video last week (see the video here). Since the video was released a week ago it has had more than 90 million hits/views. It has invaded Facebook, Twitter and every blog site imaginable. It has made national news and has even spread across national boundaries and oceans. All for one purpose: To make Joseph Kony and his LRA forces as infamous and popular as possible (and not in a good way) in the hopes of moving international political leaders to action and to bring him to justice.
Since this video and campaign was launched last week, I have read countless blog posts, Facebook statuses and news articles representing two sides. One side is that of Invisible Children, other social justice organizations and their supporters who believe that this is something that can truly make a difference for the people of South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and the CAR (Central African Republic). The other side is of anyone opposed to or ignorant about what's going on and what could happen. And let me tell you, there are a lot of opinions, critiques, judgements and explanations. There is so much to read that it's hard to sort through without feeling overwhelmed or completely lost under all of the words written.
And here I am now. Writing about something that I have been biting my tongue about for the last week. I spent countless hours doing research on the LRA and their use of child soldiers while I was in college. I created a project for a class on that specific topic/issue and was horrified by the things I learned. Again, I am not saying that I am an expert on this issue. But, the reality is that I know enough that I stand on the side of Invisible Children and other social justice organizations that are trying to bring an end to Kony's terror. I honestly believe that Joseph Kony is an evil man who is using the name of God as a cover for wreaking havoc on innocent people (LRA stands for "Lord's Resistance Army). I know that he has allowed his leaders and soldiers kidnap children from their homes and brainwash them, creating them into killing machines. I know that he has allowed his leaders and soliders to kidnap young girls claiming them as their "wives" when in reality they are using them as sex slaves. I know that they have traveled from Uganda to Southern Sudan to the Central African Republic and are now in hiding in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I know that Joseph Koney and his LRA are a threat to the basic human rights that every human is given. The right to safety. The right to protection. The right to freedom. The right to peace.
With all of that said, I am angry at the ignorance of some people. I am angry at the people who act and talk as if they know everything there is about this situation or they are completely in denial that it even exists. I read some comments on a very well informed article written by a member of the Human Rights Watch that said Joseph Kony doesn't exist. That the arguments and accusations against the LRA are just propaganda on the part of the Ugandan government. That the information being given is false or misleading. It makes me angry to read those things. It makes me angry to read people's comments that are attacking Invisible Children because of the approach they are taking. The reality is that Invisible Children's main voice and approach is through media and therefore what they are doing is trying to raise awareness. It makes me angry when people attack Invisible Children when they willing to step up and push for Kony to be found, arrested and brought to justice. They said in their official response to the critiques that they do not want him to be killed in all of this. They want him to stand trial as a war criminal - the same way Hitler's leaders were back at the end of World War 2. It makes me angry to see that justice and human rights are low on the ladder of importance in comparison to government propaganda and non-profit organization financial reports.
When did the life of a human being, someone made in the image of God, become so worthless in the eyes of the world? When did it become okay or ignored when someone's childhood and life is stripped away by brainwashing and military training? When did it become okay or ignored when entire villages are being wiped out, murdered and burned due to one man's effort to gain power and change his country? When did it become okay for people sitting in their comfortable suburban homes to criticize and tear down the people who are actually trying to do something? When did it become okay for people sitting in their comfortable suburban homes to tear down this generation of young people when they (the youth) are finding something to be passionate about and committed to when they have the power to change the world?
I am angry. I can't even tell you how many times I have told my mom in the last week that ignorance on world issues makes me angry. And I have done my best to hold my tongue. To not allow myself to become among those whose words are neither productive or loving. But I can't do it anymore. I had to write. I had to say something. I had to speak up for myself. As a Christian, as a recent college graduate, as a human being who is a part of this world.
p.s. Here is the official response to criticism from Invisible Children and the article from the Human Rights Watch member:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html
http://congosiasa.blogspot.com/2012/03/guest-post-from-campaigning-to-action.html
I have been trying to bite back my tongue. And tonight, I am giving up. I am going to say what I have been wanting to say for awhile now. And I am going to attempt to do it in an appropriate way. And by "appropriate" I don't mean my choice of language. But rather my sense of self-righteousness and attitude not interfering with what I feel the need to say.
With that little introduction written -
Ignorance on world issues really makes me angry. I am not saying that I am the most well-read or informed person on world issues. In fact, I am greatly lacking at times because I get too frustrated with trying to find the best sources or trying to sift through the personal opinion on various things and just end up giving up (this mainly has to pertain to my hatred for politics). But when it comes to certain issues (i.e. sex trafficking, adoption, child labor and child soldiers), I have done a lot of research both for school and for personal interest/conviction. I do not claim to be an expert in these areas by any stretch of the imagination. And I do not claim to know every little detail there is to know.
But... I have at least tried to learn, understand and sort through information because I believe that knowledge and wisdom is supreme. And that it's worth everything I give it - time, money, thought, etc. (Proverbs 4:7). I believe that knowing what's going on in my world is important and therefore, not something I should just shrug off or ignore or be ignorant of. I am first and foremost a Christian and therefore I know that this is not my home, that I am not supposed to be engulfed and characterized by the world. But I am a citizen of the United States. I am a human being. I am a part of this world and therefore have a right and a duty to know what is going on. And that is why I have tried to study, to research, to understand. And that is why I am writing now.
Like I said above, ignorance on world issues makes me angry. This post and my current anger is stemming from all of the debates and discussions on the new Kony2012 Campaign that was launched by the Invisible Children video last week (see the video here). Since the video was released a week ago it has had more than 90 million hits/views. It has invaded Facebook, Twitter and every blog site imaginable. It has made national news and has even spread across national boundaries and oceans. All for one purpose: To make Joseph Kony and his LRA forces as infamous and popular as possible (and not in a good way) in the hopes of moving international political leaders to action and to bring him to justice.
Since this video and campaign was launched last week, I have read countless blog posts, Facebook statuses and news articles representing two sides. One side is that of Invisible Children, other social justice organizations and their supporters who believe that this is something that can truly make a difference for the people of South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and the CAR (Central African Republic). The other side is of anyone opposed to or ignorant about what's going on and what could happen. And let me tell you, there are a lot of opinions, critiques, judgements and explanations. There is so much to read that it's hard to sort through without feeling overwhelmed or completely lost under all of the words written.
And here I am now. Writing about something that I have been biting my tongue about for the last week. I spent countless hours doing research on the LRA and their use of child soldiers while I was in college. I created a project for a class on that specific topic/issue and was horrified by the things I learned. Again, I am not saying that I am an expert on this issue. But, the reality is that I know enough that I stand on the side of Invisible Children and other social justice organizations that are trying to bring an end to Kony's terror. I honestly believe that Joseph Kony is an evil man who is using the name of God as a cover for wreaking havoc on innocent people (LRA stands for "Lord's Resistance Army). I know that he has allowed his leaders and soldiers kidnap children from their homes and brainwash them, creating them into killing machines. I know that he has allowed his leaders and soliders to kidnap young girls claiming them as their "wives" when in reality they are using them as sex slaves. I know that they have traveled from Uganda to Southern Sudan to the Central African Republic and are now in hiding in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I know that Joseph Koney and his LRA are a threat to the basic human rights that every human is given. The right to safety. The right to protection. The right to freedom. The right to peace.
With all of that said, I am angry at the ignorance of some people. I am angry at the people who act and talk as if they know everything there is about this situation or they are completely in denial that it even exists. I read some comments on a very well informed article written by a member of the Human Rights Watch that said Joseph Kony doesn't exist. That the arguments and accusations against the LRA are just propaganda on the part of the Ugandan government. That the information being given is false or misleading. It makes me angry to read those things. It makes me angry to read people's comments that are attacking Invisible Children because of the approach they are taking. The reality is that Invisible Children's main voice and approach is through media and therefore what they are doing is trying to raise awareness. It makes me angry when people attack Invisible Children when they willing to step up and push for Kony to be found, arrested and brought to justice. They said in their official response to the critiques that they do not want him to be killed in all of this. They want him to stand trial as a war criminal - the same way Hitler's leaders were back at the end of World War 2. It makes me angry to see that justice and human rights are low on the ladder of importance in comparison to government propaganda and non-profit organization financial reports.
When did the life of a human being, someone made in the image of God, become so worthless in the eyes of the world? When did it become okay or ignored when someone's childhood and life is stripped away by brainwashing and military training? When did it become okay or ignored when entire villages are being wiped out, murdered and burned due to one man's effort to gain power and change his country? When did it become okay for people sitting in their comfortable suburban homes to criticize and tear down the people who are actually trying to do something? When did it become okay for people sitting in their comfortable suburban homes to tear down this generation of young people when they (the youth) are finding something to be passionate about and committed to when they have the power to change the world?
I am angry. I can't even tell you how many times I have told my mom in the last week that ignorance on world issues makes me angry. And I have done my best to hold my tongue. To not allow myself to become among those whose words are neither productive or loving. But I can't do it anymore. I had to write. I had to say something. I had to speak up for myself. As a Christian, as a recent college graduate, as a human being who is a part of this world.
p.s. Here is the official response to criticism from Invisible Children and the article from the Human Rights Watch member:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html
http://congosiasa.blogspot.com/2012/03/guest-post-from-campaigning-to-action.html
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