Sleeping out on the National Mall

This weekend I will be sleeping out on the National Mall along with thousands of others. We are choosing to be "displaced" for one night as an act of solidarity with the Acholi people living in IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps in Northern Uganda. Our hope is to make a statement (to the U.S. government, the media and the country) that will bring about change for the Acholi.

Thousands of Acholi children (most sources seem to indicate somewhere between 20,000-30,000) have been abducted to serve as child soldiers and sex slaves in what is known as The Lord's Resistance Army, a group of rebels fighting the Ugandan government for power. Further, a significant portion of the Acholi (most sources seem to indication 1.7-2 million people, approximately 80% of the population) have been removed from their homes and forced to live in "government protected" IDP camps. This has been going on for twenty years. It's time for the oppression to end.

There is a short A/V clip on Invisible Children's Displace Me web site that offers a thorough explanation of the situation in the IDP camps in Northern Uganda. Toward the end of this clip, James Otto, Executive Director of Human Rights Focus asserts, "Uganda government simply needs a very strong statement from the White House that this conflict has become a nuisance and it should be stopped..." He goes on to suggest, in his thick, beautiful African voice, "If US government decides that this conflict is ended and they desire it at breakfast, by dinner time it wouldn't be there."

In the gospel of Luke Jesus proclaims, "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more" (Luke 12:48b). Lately, I've begun to redefine the "much" that I have been given. For me this concept refers to more than just material resources. I think the "much" that I have been given also includes components such as
a) Status - the fact that I'm an American citizen opens so many doors that are closed to others...
b) My voice (ability to vote, freedom of speech, life in a democratic nation etc.)
c) Experiences I've had (opportunities to travel, exposure to new ideas etc.)

Honestly, for better or worse, I'm not much of a political activist. But living in the DC area has been good for me; I've come to recognize and appreciate the importance of political advocacy. So it is with this in mind that I will sleep out on the National Mall tomorrow night and pray for relief for the Acholi in Northern Uganda.