What did you do on a Saturday night when you were in college? Watch the game? Try to find a ride to your boyfriend’s house? Drink beer? Or was that just me? Well not these kids. Saturday afternoon hundred’s of college students and friends from across the state camped out on the Capitol lawn to bring attention to the plight of child soldiers in Uganda.
People, I don’t think I could’ve found Uganda on a map in my undergraduate years! Yet here these students are camped out, taking a stand for children halfway across the world.
Heather Chestnut, one of our newest members and UT student, gave me the lowdown. The event is called “The Rescue”. It happened in 10 countries in 100 cities. The idea was that the people camping out at the Capitol had to wait to be “rescued” by a celebrity of some sort who would bring media attention to the subject. They need to be rescued just as the children of Uganda need to be rescued. In Uganda the army led by Joseph Kony abducts children in the night and forces them to fight in the army. Stealing their childhoods and introducing these children to a nightmare of violence.
“Unlike any generation before, we are a generation that does not differentiate a person’s worth by geography. Rather, we possess a global outlook. We grew up online with technology at our fingertips and pen pals in New Delhi and New Zealand. Therefore, we have a greater sense of connectedness that compels us to fight for our friends’ freedom.” This comes from the brochure they were handing out. You can learn more at www.invisiblechildren.com.
When I went out to check on them yesterday afternoon the tents were mostly down and the kids were hopeful that someone would show up to save them.
I hope someone showed up to rescue them today. The rain is fairly ugly out there. Maya Angelou … Governor… Lance… anyone?
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