Stand in Solidarity with Child Soldiers

Since becoming a dad, I've been thinking about the kind of world my kid is going to grow up in. What kind of man is he going to become? I'm lucky enough to spend my life in front of kids who honestly care what I have to say, and I think this generation has a bad rap. You can be a hipster, a scenester, a goth or a prep -- and someone's got something to say about you. But I never lost hope in us, because we're still standing on the shoulders of great leaders, we've got the resources, the knowledge, and the iPhone to do anything. The only generation to ever change America's course -- I mean really break the chain, were the youth. Every decade saw it: the radicals, the revolutionaries, the punk rock kids, the kids who lit shit on fire, (seriously, watch the Weather Underground). They were the only ones with the balls to think they could change things. And they did.

So you'd think we're all apathetic and lazy, twittering the world our laments on last night's episode of Lost. Maybe we are. But in our hyper-connected world, the group of radicals have gone global. We're your neighbors and your co-workers. And maybe you don't know our names, but soon you will: I'd like to tell you about a few friends of mine, who, in a few days are about to make history, and they want you with them.

They're called Invisible Children. They're a movement of people who literally gave up everything because they believed in humanity. They put their money where their mouth is. I watched the film Invisible Children: Rough Cut a while back, about kids sleeping in the streets in Northern Uganda -- hundreds of them -- because they feared being abducted by rebel leader Joseph Kony and forced to fight in his rebel militia, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). They're kids. Except no one told them they were, so they carry AK-47s, kill their parents and murder, rape and terrorize their own people on command. In the past two decades, 30,000 of them have been abducted. This is a reality neither you nor I could ever begin to understand. It was one of those times in my life where I was given a choice -- continue ignoring the issue because it wasn't in front of me, or forget about myself and do something. I was losing sleep, I had to go to Africa. My band Fall Out Boy traveled to Northern Uganda to film our music video "Me and You" to see it for ourselves and my experiences have forever changed me.

Everyone I met, everywhere I walked, with every step, the hardwiring in my brain began to change. I was quiet. Every time I wanted to complain, I made sure to bite my tongue instead. One day, we were stopped by some local men holding machetes; they wouldn't let us pass. The fear I felt was paralyzing, but I looked into the eyes of these men and all could see was desperation. A pervasive hopelessness. These men stood at the mercy of a twenty-three year war.

That night, the lights went out in the village, and in those moments of pure darkness, no one could differentiate if you were a rock star or an orphan, more importantly, it didn't matter. Coming home was surreal, I couldn't rationalize anything and nothing really made sense.

My friends at Invisible Children know these stories, they know the names of the people. They are the culture-changers and paradigm shifters. They are the millions of kids who don't care if you think they're cool or not. They refuse to idly allow a modern-day holocaust to continue just because there's nothing in it for anyone to end this war. No oil, no resources, nothing to gain.

Here's where you come in. On April 25th, Invisible Children is staging an event called the RESCUE, in 100 cities across 10 countries worldwide. Thousands of people are going to symbolically 'abduct' themselves and stand in solidarity with all the abducted children forced to fight as soldiers. In turn, every group will be 'rescued' by a celebrity, politician, local luminary -- someone who will make noise and bring the media out. I will be there, in Washington, D.C. standing in solidarity with thousands of other people so that these kids in Uganda will be noticed. And if no cultural leader shows up in one particular city, then everyone in the surrounding cites that were rescued, will take a bus to join them. This will continue until every participating city is rescued. Now, this could take days, or even weeks, but it's going to happen.

The RESCUE is going to make history. It's going to make a positive impact. We will be at the frontlines. And I want YOU to be with us.

I thoroughly believe that after April 25th, the world will see a shift in consciousness, and things will be different. You will be changed, or at least you'll have a hell of a story to tell. Go to therescue.invisiblechildren.com and watch their new film called The Rescue of Joseph Kony's Child Soldiers to learn more about the specifics of why this is the next step. Then sign up. This is your chance to be a part of something great, not for the glory, but for the courage it takes to stand up for justice. Just don't light shit on fire, I don't want to get in trouble.

Comments

[ZenJu]

Tragic. And thanks to misinformation and hate campaigns, the UN's so-called "Human Rights Commission" finds little or no time to expose and tackle the horrifying human rights abuses in Africa (or anywhere else, for that matter) because they're obsessively and exclusively spending all their effort in bashing a certain tiny democracy in the Mideast. And where, pray tell, are all the marches, the thousands in the streets of major capitals, crying for justice for these child soldiers?

[TigersEye]

These people are a world away and live a life I will never understand. How can you understand the depth of suffering the likes you personally have never seen or experienced? I've followed the Uganda news for many years, read articles about adults and children with mutilated limbs. A horror I cannot comprehend. It makes you feel helpless that to this day has not been stopped.

What if this terror were happening in our own country and the world stood by and did nothing?

[MartinaNicolls]

Thanks for the article Peter and bringing the issue of child soldiers to light in this forum. I work with ex-combatants, particularly children, youth and women in Africa, from Liberia to Sierra Leone to Sudan to Northern Uganda. For all the ex-combatants who have moved from fighting to education and meaningful work, there are many more who are still fighting - indoctrinated into fighting to support a cause that is in fact deception, and to support people that are in fact manipulators. I sincerely hope that April 25 is a day, not only of awareness, but of action.

[Ohioan730]

Pete Wenzt is actually a part of 2 generations that are committed to changing the world. Gen X had been written off as apathetic but we grew up in the 80s when the "moral" majority had taken over. When we got the internet, we used it to escape. We internalized all our dissonance and dove into the he// in Kurt Cobain's mind. A depressed, disillusioned rock star who committed suicide is our generational spokesperson.

But the hipsters, goths and emo youth of today don't have the same powerless and isolated feelings that I had as a youth. Never underestimate a Gen Xer who once seemed apathetic. When you get a shot of patriotism for the first time, its like opium. We will never go back to apathy and the aching longing of it. We're addicted to hope now and its partly because of the kids who are about 10-15 years younger. Isn't that something?

Gen Y (or whatever they are called) are not alone. Us 30-40 somethings have your back.

I am positively moved by young people today, whether they are common folks, Hollywood players or rock stars. Until the Fall Out Boy made a big deal about this issue I had ignored it. Its impossible to now. You got me. I refuse to let my 9 year old daughter (a Fall Out Boy fan) be more politically aware than I am. Well played, young man.

[nolalola26]

Well said! I was born in 1983, and I relate much more with the Gen-Xers than these kids born at the end of the 1980s & 90s. I can remember watching TV shows & movies about these compassionate, briliant, thoughtful presidents and wishing I could have that. I grew up feeling unpatriotic until Hope. A very addictive drug indeed, and I'm thrilled to be a user!

[eric341]

Thank you for using your voice and profile to speak up! We WILL get the news out there, and people like you are playing a big role. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[ailbhe]

I hope people go see your documentary on the link provided, I have just watched it, well done.

[HopeR]

Thank you for writing this and educating those of us who know very little about this great tragedy.

[StuManChu]

At first I was going to some snide comment about Peter, but after reading his article, he is pretty much on the money. It is tragic what is happening not only in Uganda, but many of the countries in Africa. Coming from the Live Aid generation, I don't expect much to come of the event being staged this weekend, but I wish you well. When will the U.N. become relevant in addressing these issues instead of the cocktail party that it has become.

[DogTown]

This country is so wacked that we spend hours in the media talking about President Obama's less than a minute handshake to a foreign leader, or a murderer in Boston. There are too many real on going problems in this world that need to be stopped now!

[Clavis]

Thank you, Mr. Wentz. To hear the details of these child soldiers is, indeed, to have your heart ripped from your chest and stepped on. It's so easy for us to get caught up in the trivia of our lives when we aren't forced to think about how monstrous and inhuman the lives of so many others are.

And let's not forget that Kony believes he is doing God's work... like so many others, he has convinced himself that "God is on [my] side"... has any belief ever been more dangerous?

[Pema]

the children have been noticed, they have been activlly ignored. The world knows they are there, the rough part is not enough people care. The two largest industries in the world is illegal arms sales and human traficking, the world knows, most are too worried about what iphone to get, or what jeans to buy.
you're right, there are people in every generation that stand up for others, i am 50 now, i dont give up the fight, but i see the goal of a humane world slipping away. i am glad you went, because you now are a 'witness". teach your son to stand up. and demand others stand up and dont just try to be all chic aboyut it. what makes the world change is the donkey work, the loading 50 lb sacks of food on the back of a truck in the middle of nowhere.
keep going, make change happen

[4State]

Well spoken. Thank you for your and the band's involvement.

Yet another issue (such as never-ending American occupations) that American media is too cowardly to touch.

[mwoman]

Good for you, Peter!

[lilyspetal]

It's great someone can see the faces of the child soliders, the rebel army forces and the unstructured infrastructure in action. I'm glad the author mentioned the actions of the younger generation being the ones to start the revolution. I'm in my early twenties and became depressed learning children were holding guns, murdering before their teenage years, losing hope before being able to form their dreams while other nations, including global organizations like the U.N. sit back and watch because they aren't being affected, claim this is unsolvable or forget about their suffering.... the Holocaust, Slavery, The Mistreatment of the Braceros, Immigrants, the Uganadan children........ this is the 21st century, we all have to take a stand and do something to help- encourage politicians to help restructure Uganda- not just look at the nation as helpless and never being able to blossum into a developed country. If that outlook was the case, America, or any other post-industrialized society, wouldn't be here..... Thanks for sharing, I hope other journalists adopt this issue and not observe it as a trend... I hope we actually DO something about this instead of watching it passively, almost like it's a piece of entertainment... I asked my writing professor, "Why is Africa still in the desolate state it is in today?" He replied "Because we colonialized it.. and left it there," somewhat laughing.. WHAT if that were you? You grew up in a world where nations forgot about you...........

[jhNY]

Happy for you you've found a worthy cause for action, but climate change and its attendant outgrowth, longer periods of drought in Africa, will continue to produce poor crop yields, more undernourishment, more social unrest, more lawlessness and violence, and yep, more child soldiers.

[thecommonraven]

The war in Uganda spanned from a British occupation that educated the Southern Ugandans and repressed the Northern Ugandans. The initial conflict was justified, but after the Acholi people at large grew tired of fighting Joseph Kony continued to make them fight through abductions and mutilations. Uganda remains a very fertile land. Global warming has nothing to do with this conflict.

[Klimb]

"The initial conflict was justified, but after the Acholi people at large grew tired of fighting..."

A typical sentence of how most people have failed to know the origin and expansion of the Conflict!