David Porter Orlando Sentinel
No longer invisible
Help put a face on grim risk facing Uganda's children
Forty-three years ago, thousands of black children walked out of their schools in Birmingham, Ala., to protest racial segregation. Television news images of authorities using police dogs and fire hoses to attack black children forced mainstream America to confront racism. Through their courage, Birmingham's children made this nation better.
Next Saturday, thousands of teenagers and young adults across America, including Orlando, will take an equally profound stand to stop the brutal exploitation of Uganda's "invisible children."
Bet you never heard of the "invisible children." Don't feel bad. I didn't know much about them either.Earlier this week, I saw Invisible Children: Rough Cut, a documentary by three young guys from California who went to investigate the result of 20 years of fighting in Uganda -- Africa's longest running war.
There's part of me that wishes that I didn't see the documentary because it's very grim and difficult to forget. It showed that thousands of children -- many younger than 10 -- have been abducted and turned into killing machines by the rebels trying to topple Uganda's government.
The rebels torture and kill kids in front of the abducted children. Then rebels tell the abducted children they will get the same treatment unless they pick up AK-47s and start slaughtering people.
Children in northern Uganda don't want anything to do with the rebels. So every day before the sun sets, more than 20,000 children leave their villages and walk to larger towns to avoid being abducted when rebels sweep through after dark. Children crowd into bus stations and other buildings for protection while they sleep. The next morning, they return home. That's why they are called "night commuters."
The documentary has had a powerful effect on many who have seen it. One 16-year girl sold her horse so she could send money to help the children. Another young woman whose soldier-fiancee was killed in Iraq donated the money she had saved for her wedding.
The documentary actually has been making a circuit through high schools and colleges for a couple of years. Next Saturday, young people throughout the country will be holding a "global night commute" to demonstrate their solidarity with the Ugandan children who don't want to be turned into weapons.
The goal is to put pressure on the United States and United Nations to stop the ruthless slaughter and exploitation of children in northern Uganda. Certainly the past colonization and exploitation of Africa by European countries contributed to much of the fighting in Africa, but that's no excuse for the brutality that is now inflicted on children, which includes the systematic rape of girls younger than 10.
No doubt some Americans would just as soon shrug off the horror. After all, it's just Africa. Why should Americans care?Let's take the selfish point of view. Homeland security demands that we care. The military slaves in the rebel army can easily be shaped into human bombs by terrorists with grudges against the United States.
We should care because "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness." (Those words are from our Declaration of Independence.) Pessimists certainly will dismiss the young adults who built this campaign as naive idealists. Surely, the same was said of the men who founded this great nation.
Orlando is playing a key role as one of 130 cities selected to host a "global night commute." City leaders are letting organizers hold it at Trotters Park, formerly known as Ben White Raceway. That is on Lee Road, just east of the North Orange Blossom Trail. The event will begin at 7 p.m. next Saturday and end at 7 a.m.
Participants will spend the time writing letters to Washington leaders and creating artwork that expresses American values of freedom and the significance of the "global night commute." Then they'll sleep together under the stars. I'm excited to think about all the positive energy that will be put to work for a great cause. (For more details on what participants should bring, go to Invisible Children .com, or call 407-719-7060. Organizers encourage participants to pre-register on the Web site.)
I'm proud to report that my 16-year-old daughter will be there. The 17-year-old daughter of one of my co-workers will be there, too. They knew about this movement long before me. I applaud them.I hope that other parents and adults will encourage the teenagers in their lives to participate, too.
If the pastor or youth minister at your house of worship doesn't mention this event on Sunday, I would ask why not.
Most people, if they're lucky, get only a few opportunities to make a real difference. This is one of them.
What these young people are planning to do is important work. By standing up for this cause, they will help make the world safer for us and African children who are hunted down by monsters.
It's noteworthy that mostly white kids are driving this movement, and they deserve credit. Black kids cannot afford to relax on the sidelines. We're talking about Africa here.Hopefully Central Florida's predominantly black institutions, including Jones and Evan high schools, and Bethune-Cookman College, will be strongly represented.
You don't have to be an adult to be a leader. That was proved in Birmingham four decades ago.
Anyone looking for Central Florida's future leaders can find them next Saturday night at Trotters Park.
David Porter can be reached at dporter@orlandosentinel.com or at 407-420-5533
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