The Stampede

Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: Student Life

Media Credit: From Invisible Children website. Children in places like Uganda forced to be soldiers.

A screening of Invisible Children and discussion afterward drew a crowd of about 150 students, faculty and staff. As a part of Justice Week, the Cross Cultural Missions Committee held the event to raise awareness of the injustice the Invisible Children tour addresses.

The Invisible Children representatives arrived in a decaled 18-passenger van to show a 40 minute video and lead a question and answer session. Invisible Children is a non-profit organization that gives "compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation" in northern Uganda.

The 23-year-long continuing war between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda has left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle of an enormous mess. The main goal of the organization is to stop the LRA, led by Joseph Kony, from forcing a draft on children, some as young as two years old, into the LRA as child soldiers.

After the Invisible Children representatives finished their presentation, many students expressed the heavy weight of this topic on their minds.

"I came because I am going to Kenya this summer," said freshman Jackie Johnson. "Seeing Africa in general for that reason is really heart wrenching."

Freshman Rebecca Miller talked about the moving nature of the presentation as well.
"There was a lot of information," Miller said. "It moved me a lot. I am going into Missions so it is really sad to see that."

Amanda Mitchell, a student who traveled to Uganda seeing the injustice there first hand, was the keynote presenter and subject of the video.

"I wanted to be more than a protester and hold a sign," said Mitchell, who talked at length about her good friend in Uganda, Gloria. She continued, talking about her purpose in touring.

"After Uganda, I felt my calling: to share her (Gloria's) story with the world," she said.
Mitchell plans to go back to Uganda soon.

One of the main points raised in the Question and Answer session was a bill that the United States House and Senate is considering. Mitchell shared that the bill will potentially accomplish three things: facilitating the capture of Joseph Kony, rehabilitation of the war ravaged areas and the future continuation of peace in northern Uganda.

The presenters encouraged those present to take the initiative by asking their congressmen and women to help by supporting the bill to stop the devastation in Africa.

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