Invisible Children Made Visible

Invisible Children is probably one of the hardest working, most determined movement I've heard of in awhile. In the summer of 2003, Laren, Jason, and Bobby headed off to Africa for the trip of a lifetime, but they came back with that and so much more. Throughout the course of their trip, they learned of the longest running conflict on the continent of Africa: Joseph Kony and his child armies. This terror abducts African kids while they are sleeping, and subjects them to a life of violence and terror. After this realization, these 3 young men knew that their lives would be forever changed. So, they made a documentary, spread the word, asked for support, and thus, Invisible Children was born.

In Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Sudan, Koney abducts innocent kids, forcing them to fight with guns and murder other innocent people. IC documentaries talk to victims, and tell their stories as they recall having to witness the murders of their families, and being told that they would too be killed if they cried. One child even discusses having to drop a baby in a river to die because his mother wouldn't walk fast enough with Kony. These children should be running around playing with their friends, not running through the woods with guns and machetes. They are forever changed, and forever traumatized.

So, why are we just hearing about this now? The media deems it too graphic for television, and these African villages are so remote, with no cell phone service or reception. Invisible Children has worked relentlessly to spread the word through every type of media possible, as well as sending groups out in vans across the country to talk to ordinary kids like us, and let us know that we CAN make a difference, and this is our chance.

From personal experience, I think that Invisible Children is truly changing the world, one high school at a time. This is not an ordinary charity; in fact their website reads, "We're not in charity. We're into genuine compassion." These stories are stories that will stick with you, and have a genuine affect on your life. I find myself thinking about these kids and their families whenever I have a problem. Sometimes we need to see the misfortune that others go through to appreciate what we have, and that's exactly what Invisible Children does. These representatives do a phenomenal job of explaining the cause, asking for help, and letting you know what the benefits of your help will be. Helping in any way that you can will truly make a difference in somebody's life. One person can make a difference, and that one person can be you.

"You will find, as you look back on your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others."

Westboro Baptist Church

Westboro Baptist Church is a homophobic hate group located in Topeka, Kansas. The group leader, Fred Phelps, spearheads attacks on Jews, gays, and funerals for fallen soldiers. The group claims their beliefs support God's laws and morals, and they only target those who do otherwise. Allegedly, our God is an angry God, which is why he has cast so much trauma and destruction on this Earth.The groups official website, "godhatesfags.com" shows pictures, timelines, beliefs, and events regarding the anti-semitic group. Here you can even find a schedule of fallen soldiers memorials the group plans to visit and protest at. The site also lists sister sites including "JewsKilledJesus.com" and "GodHatesTheWorld.com."

 

I think that what the WBC does is absolutely sick and immoral. While no major punishment can come of their protests due to a separation of church and state, there is a level of respect that they need to adhere to. They have a right to speak their minds, as long as they don't lose all of their dignity in the process. I have trouble understanding how a human being could find it okay to completely disregard any level of respect they had for another human beings beliefs, values, or life. While these people say they follow Christianity, they do an awful job of following traditional Christian beliefs. Most Christians, or most moral human beings, could never attack someone's life or their beliefs in such a personal and vicious way.

I believe that the worst portion of the Westboro Baptist's Church's actions are the protests at the funerals of fallen soldiers. This is where a separation of church and state definitely comes into play because soldiers fight solely for our country, not for a particular religion sector. How someone could be completely against a solider sacrificing his life for our country and for members of the WBC themselves is beyond me. Without these exact soldiers, the WBC wouldn't even be able to do what they're doing right now. What a tragedy it is to think that these soliders are giving their lives so that the members of the Westboro Baptist Church may protest their funerals. I truly cannot even fathom how the members of this Church call what they're practicing 'religion' and think that this is why they were put on this Earth. While we all have different beliefs, our religions should all have one basic belief that we hold common: Love others.

"If you're not going to stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them."

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying exists all around us, and follows us home, leaving victims with no escape. With new technology, teenagers can’t get away from the torture, as it seeps into text messaging, Facebook-ing, and tweeting. Oftentimes, school faculty and administrators feel as though they cannot help since the harassment doesn’t occur on school grounds, but that is not true. While they may be considered overstepping their authority, they can teach students and parents what cyberbullying is, why it happens, and how it can be stopped. Education is the best prevention, for most kids would stop once they see just how severe the consequences and outcomes for both the bully and the victim can be.

Websites such as these can be used to teach others all about cyberullying:

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html 

http://www.netsmartz.org/cyberbullying

There are many forms of cyberbullying, those of which include: physical threats, rumor spreading, photoshopping, and identity theft, all of these devastating to a teenager in their own way. While most of these seem 'harmless' they are driving many innocent teens to suicide, devastating their peers and families. We have to prevent the bullying before we cause another suicide. Teens who are being victimized can seek help by talking to a trusted adult, teacher, social worker, or counselor. However, many teens are convinced that this will make the torture worse. If that is so, the student can take precautionary actions on their own, such as: blocking the number that is threatening them, or deleting an account from a social networking site. If anyone thinks before they type, together, we can put an end to cyberbullying.

               

Bulllying

 Bullying exists all around us, and sometimes follows us home from school. For Delaney E., a senior at Victor Senior High School, she was bullied nonstop in and out of school for excluding some friends from a party, until she sought guidance from a group of trusted adults. Jim Harold, now a senior at Webster Thomas, was bullied throughout his younger years, but struggled with his parents, and his own frustration at not telling a school counselor. Later, Jim was diagnosed with Asperger's, a condition like autism, that provided answers and closure as to why Jim wouldn't verbally speak out against this wrongdoing. Elise Groth, a mere 12 years old, was a victim of bullying on her school bus after she denied an older boy when he asked her out on a date. Elise's parents had to work relentlessly with faculty and administration to stop the torment, punish the bullies, and save their daughter. Elise was living in fear, but now speaks out to show other kids that life will get better.

Jamey Rodemyer, a 14-year old resident of Buffalo, recently committed suicide due to the fact that he was gay. He was previously actively participated in a project called "It Gets Better", aimed to reassure gay teens that the torment would stop and they would find happiness. Finally though, the bullying just got to be too much for Jamey to handle, and he ended his own life. He looked up to Lady Gaga, even making his final tweet, "@ladygaga bye mother monster, thank you for all you have done, paws up forever". She mentioned him in a recent concert, dedicating "Hair" to him, provoking awareness about gay bullying, and the awful effects it has on our youth today.

Mr. Miller, dean of students, speaks out against bullying here at Bishop Kearney and states that, "We thrive on this negativity... You may not think what someone says is bullying, but it could be to someone else."

"I don't see why other people get pleasure from bullying others, I just can't comprehend it." -Tyler D.

"Bullying is becoming a huge problem around the world because many people think bullying is like it is in the movies." -Kathryn P.

"Bullying has been a major issue across America for a long time and has caused too many kids to an early grave and should be prevented." -Chris G.

"Stop it. Don't do it. It's mean." -Mr. Miller

Women are to be excluded from jobs that could be hazardous to a fetus

I absolutely think that women should not work in places that could harm their unborn children. As a mother, and a parent, it is your obligation to keep your child safe and protect them. Putting a child in danger just for the success of your job is ignorant, and makes you seem like you are not ready to be a mother. If you are truly ready to be a mother, it would be your maternal instinct to put your job and wealth aside for your child. Companies should give warning to pregnant women about pending dangers for their fetuses, for they are just as liable if the danger wasn't made aware. Good parents should be willing to do anything for their children, even before they are born, and even if it means putting your money, job, and success aside for a few months.