The Iguana

Last year, I watched the Invisible Children movie/documentary about child soldiers with my high school’s Amnesty group. Every night, families would send their children into the city so that they would not be stolen and recruited from the towns at night. I cannot fathom living such a life.

We are so many so fortunate who sit and read or watch about those less fortunate, but what do we do? What do we do? We sigh or cry. We denounce it and rant about its horror. Perhaps, we write a check or fund raise the money of others. We talk about it with others and tell them of what we’ve learned. What does all this do? Is it really going to have that much of an impact? Will it really make a change?

I know, I know. Every little bit helps, but I can’t help feeling that those little bits help such a small amount that it’s never enough. Too many are desensitized. We aren’t surprised to hear of car bombs anymore. There is so much going wrong in the world today, every day. Where does one even know where to start to care? If I start caring about child soldiers, then I’ll start caring about AIDS, then today’s slaves, then genocide, then genital mutilation, then child labor, then more and more and more and more and more! How to choose what to care for, what to work for and against?

I’ve raised a few thousand dollars for a worthy cause before, but there’s always so much more that is needed. I’ve taught myself and others about the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and political prisoners, but there is always more to teach and learn. If I give my own time and labor, not just my money and that of others, it would be but a drop of the ocean needed.

I am not being cynical and saying that it is best to do nothing. Perhaps it is easiest to just not care and give up on it all, but no. That is not what I want. I still believe in each person and each action’s value. It’s just…where to start, where to start…