Have you heard of Kony 2012? It was my daughter of 15 years who brought my attention to monstrosities that are being forced on hundreds of millions of kids –kids like yours and mine- every day in Ugana, all because of a man with the last name Kony who cares about power and nothing else. To be honest, it's not only knowing the injustices against these innocent children that is hurting my soul, but also recognizing, with gratitude, the fortunate lives our kids have.
How has the topic of Kony 2012 and the realization of the child soldiers in Uganda affected my relationship with my daughter?
That fact that it was my daughter alerted me to what is happening in Uganda was important, because it sparked a conversation that interesting and important for both of us. She made me open my computer to share the video below, whichhas spread like an epidemic on Facebook and YouTube. Everyone was leaving comments on the video to raise awareness for something that has been happening for over 20 years and has torn over 30,000 children away from their families and obligated them to not only to serve as soldiers in the army of Joseph Kony, but also to commit atrocities against their own parents and other citizens of their community.
Feeling the need to roll up my sleeves and do something –and full of a genuine urge to change the world- my daughter and I both shed tears while we watched the half-hour video. The documentary seeks to make Kony famous much like a presidential campaign wishes to make the candidate a household name. "Famous?" you say. Yes, famous because it's understood that that it's not until we are made aware of the atrocities that are happening, like the ones in Uganda, that we resolve to make changes and demand support that will help end similar injustices and disarm Kony's movement –which needs to be ended once and for all.
Watching the video, feelings of fury grew in my daughter and I, feelings against Kony, the man that has become the most feared ogre in the history of that country. Together, we experienced the disappointment of knowing that we live in a world that allows such injustices. Moreover, we spoke of the blessings that we do have: having each other, having the confidence that we can sleep at night without the fear that someone stole my daughter (as in the case of children in Uganda who would rather die to continue living in fear all the time, every day). My daughter and I talked about the joy of being able to say what we think, have shelter, food and a roof — things we take for granted and that many children (the Invisible Children that speak in the video), like her, have never had.
My daughter and I have shared this and now we share the desire to do something to support this and other causes that help children in situations of horror, insecurity and fear. It is something we can do together.
Do you talk to your kids about the injustices of the world?
Image via AP
