'Invisible Children' raises awareness, film encourages help for Ugandans
Casey Northcutt
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: College Life
The concrete beneath their heads feels cold and hard. The village hospital is dark and cramped. It's too small to hold them all, so they must curl up tightly and try to sleep. Some of the younger ones cry, wanting to go home to their mothers.
But, if they did, the Lord's Resistance Army might abduct them by morning.
Since the 1990s, the children of northern Uganda have left their homes every night, walking miles to the closest schools, hospitals and other community areas in search of safety. In a country torn by civil war for more than 20 years, according to globalsecurity.com, they fear abduction and assimilation into the rebel army.
Their bleak and tragic story moved Patrick Wallace, junior from Hawesville, Ky., into action.
"It's so unjust that you really can't help but get involved," he said.
Two years ago, Wallace watched a documentary called "Invisible Children: the Rough Cut" describing the war and violence raging in Uganda.
According to the film, the war began when a woman named Alice Lakwena believed God ordered her to overthrow the government for mistreating the Acholi tribe.
Lakwena created a movement that continued even after her exile. Joseph Kony, a man claiming to be her cousin, took control of her followers and transformed them into the Lord's Resistance Army to rebel against the government. As support for the resistance waned, the LRA resorted to abducting children from homes, schools and villages to stock its ranks, according to Invisiblechildren.com.
"Children are considered the best soldiers," the site said, "because they are impressionable enough to brainwash, big enough to carry a gun and plentiful enough to create huge masses of fighters."
Wallace, along with hundred of thousands of people across the United States, has joined the fight to take M16s out of the hands of children. The three young filmmakers who created the documentary later established Invisible Children, a nonprofit organization devoted to changing the Western point of view.
But, if they did, the Lord's Resistance Army might abduct them by morning.
Since the 1990s, the children of northern Uganda have left their homes every night, walking miles to the closest schools, hospitals and other community areas in search of safety. In a country torn by civil war for more than 20 years, according to globalsecurity.com, they fear abduction and assimilation into the rebel army.
Their bleak and tragic story moved Patrick Wallace, junior from Hawesville, Ky., into action.
"It's so unjust that you really can't help but get involved," he said.
Two years ago, Wallace watched a documentary called "Invisible Children: the Rough Cut" describing the war and violence raging in Uganda.
According to the film, the war began when a woman named Alice Lakwena believed God ordered her to overthrow the government for mistreating the Acholi tribe.
Lakwena created a movement that continued even after her exile. Joseph Kony, a man claiming to be her cousin, took control of her followers and transformed them into the Lord's Resistance Army to rebel against the government. As support for the resistance waned, the LRA resorted to abducting children from homes, schools and villages to stock its ranks, according to Invisiblechildren.com.
"Children are considered the best soldiers," the site said, "because they are impressionable enough to brainwash, big enough to carry a gun and plentiful enough to create huge masses of fighters."
Wallace, along with hundred of thousands of people across the United States, has joined the fight to take M16s out of the hands of children. The three young filmmakers who created the documentary later established Invisible Children, a nonprofit organization devoted to changing the Western point of view.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Alicia M.
posted 2/29/08 @ 1:56 PM CST
We all must try and help these innocent children in Uganda. These suffering youth have done nothing to deserve the horrors they have heard of, seen in front of them, and fear so much. (Continued…)
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