The power of social media hits me as a status update, a newsfeed, a tweet, event a retweet.
Its here.
Awhile ago I recall planning some efforts to push ideas from the underground to the overground. A way to disrupt. The idea remained a discussion between a few friends.
So over the past 48 hours we've been hearing about Jospeh Kony and the Invisible Children campaign to arrest him via making the world care. Have a look at this film:
KONY 2012 from
INVISIBLE CHILDREN on
Vimeo.
I was impressed. Actually, I was touched. I was touched at a deep level that I could do something and also inpspired that my voice, my action counted. Bring it on... what next.
But hang on I've been here before. Make Poverty History- I marched. I wore white. Live Aid. I watched. I prayed.
Did what I want to see change actually happen? Did I really make a difference? The reality is yes... but I can't say that I feel connected to that "yes". It just seems drowned out by the next challenege. It actually seems a distant memory.
Is this going to be any different.
I've met Child Solidiers, even worked with one. He's handiwork of Kony's rebels. He's gone back to help his community. He's gone back- I have deep respect for him doing this when he could have walked away. I've helped partnerships to assist groups in Northern Uganda, Southern Sudan help rebuild lives and livlihoods. My colleagues have been to the region. Whilst no expert I do know the name and some of what is going on.
So here we are, in the age of constant barrage of voices. This happens to be a loud one coming from the groud up. It has my attention. It has my 5 minutes. I watched the video- that's 28 minutes (usually anything over 3 minutes is long).
Afterwards I sit back and contemplate action.
Am I going to do something again? Is this worth my time and attention? Sould I do something? The answer is simple: yes. Not just a Yes and emphatic one at that. I care about this. I may not use the campaign material. But i will speak out against injustice. I will speak out for my friend and for others. It's not about the campaign and its makers- whilst they are seemingly quite cool and hats off for all their efforts. I care because it is right to care. Because I, too, have been loved and brought up with dignity. My responsibility is to live this and serve for others who do not have this luxury. It starts however with love. This is not just about "rightness" for me but an expression of care and love for one another. It seems that there is a moral high ground here with this particular campaign. A rightness about it. I'm glad for this and that it is allowing others to step on. But for me its never just about rightness. It must be more. It must be lived, re-lived, and lived again. Its about loving and caring for one another each new day. To love, to care. I chose to do both.
