I'm sitting in my hotel room waiting for Illinois's meeting with Drew Simon, Senator Dick Durbin's assistant, our first meeting of the day, and I thought I'd share a little of what I have learned about the issues in Northern Uganda, lobbying, and our culture.
Yesterday was such an exciting day! It was full of energy. Everyone here is so passionate about Invisible Children. The filmmakers and tons of VIPs gave some of the most inspirational speeches I've ever heard. And my head is about to explode because I learned so much! I'm just going to write a fairly random list of wonderful quotes, tidbits, ideas, etc. that I heard yesterday. I'd love to hear your thoughts on them!
Tips for Lobbying: know your audience; be creative; listen to those you are trying to help; do your homework: know the history, know the bill, know the people you're meeting; be persistent; be strong, firm, respectful, and grateful.
The End (apprehending Joseph Kony) is only the beginning.
"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men" -- Frederick Douglass
There is a huge problem in several "nonprofits" in that they actually pocket a percentage of the donations. Causecast takes 0% of the donations. --Levi Felix
An artist and an activist aren't so different --Ross Bleckner
How do you sustain the initial passion one feels after seeing the IC videos for the first time?
There is a difference between giving and earning; simply handing something over to someone is not as beneficial as giving them the opportunity to earn it --Shea Parton
Look to the future; don't "get used to" what's going on if it should be changed --James Haven
Barack Obama is descended from the same people that are being massacred, my people! Tell him his fellow tribe members need help! --Honorable Okello Oryem, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Uganda
TOM SHADYAC:
Listen to yourself... you have infinite power
If your parents are saying you're crazy, you're probably doing something right!
It's always in our language. Ipod. I. Where do we gold from? A MINE. MINE. MINE.
I think women are a little more evolved than men. They listen to their hearts and have sensitivity.
Don't worry, worrying doesn't help.
LOVE YOURSELF. Damn it, I say every one of you be you!
I'm not against something-I don't think it's as powerful to be against something-I'm FOR something!
We're tied in this web of mutuality... what we're doing isn't just about Uganda, it frees us too!
Live an amazing, meaningful life. Money didn't do shit for me!
Society puts out the light inside of you. You need to bring forth what's inside you.
WOW I just got inspired all over again!! Which is good, because I'm about to head over to Dick Durbin's office. There's much more of this to come!
2 comments:
These are fabulous thoughts you compiled from your day! Here are my humble thoughts, since you asked:
1. I, too, have very little patience for the "me" mentality. Life is all about "we." We are all connected. So we should be concerned with what's happening in our home, neighborhood, country and globe! It all matters.
2. What I take from many of these ideas is that people need to not only recognize they have value; they need to be empathetic and wise enough to do something constructive with that value to help when and where they can.
3. Women ARE more evolved than men! ;-) And because we think with our hearts and we are more sensitive, it's hard not to worry. It's in our nature. Catch 22...So we need the male voice around to keep hearts and heads working together. It's a good balance! And we can learn from each other.
4. Indeed it is much easier to build strong children...It's so hard to cull these tidbits of wisdom from people these days with such an enormous amount of information bombarding us. We need to be able to recognize it when we see it. And I think the founders of IC have said some very wise things over the last 6 years.
5. As a parent, one of the most important things you listed is what James Haven said. Don't ever become indifferent. There's always something constructive that can be done to improve a situation. Locus of control...
6. You ARE crazy! Just the right kind of crazy! And I'm so proud! And when you go to Africa, I'm coming with you!
WHOOHOOOO!!! Thanks for your insight mama! I love you!
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