On Kony

First of all: 

Watch this if you haven't already. While I have known about Kony and what has been happening in Uganda for quite a while, it has always been simply one of those events where no one really seems to do anything about it. There's been no huge television appeal, no mass coverage. It's been happening under our noses and because no one takes the time to look at something closely, everyone became ignorant. Kony is a monstrous man, that is no doubt. The campaigns' goal to put enough pressure on the Senate and people who 'matter' suggests the right idea, that we cannot do anything but make the people who can act on it. But there's only so far they can go.

The sad thing is, if we blindly donated to the regime within Uganda, we are not donating to the good guys. Only donating to the slightly less evil ones. The Ugandan army has committed many an atrocity. The only real people we can look after are the people who aren't part of either. And then, what are we going to do? Throw money at them when it will go straight into the hands of the military? As is the case in many African nations, sometimes we can only sit back. Blindly throwing money is never the answer, look at Somalia. And that also showed that blindly throwing troops into a hell hole doesn't work. A U.N backed peace keeping aid mission may be the only logical solution but you try selling that to the international community right now. Should first world countries play the game of international police? I believe they should, it's there responsibility. Surely the right thing to do when faced with something like this is to stand up and do everything in your power to stop it? Not just let people die because we don't have the money. You wouldn't do that in real life. You wouldn't not help a woman who had fallen over in the middle of the road because you don't have the effort. At least, I hope that is true.

There are hundreds of regimes out there and each one needs to be dealt with but we can't just deal with them all. What needs to happen is a consensus on how we can bring the ones responsible to justice. Short, sharp operations aimed at the very highest level with precision, backed by international aid groups and advisors to stabilise. That's the only option. As we saw in Libya, the precise military action can help. We just forgot about what would happen after.

Above is one of the most powerful photos I have ever seen. The woman pictured is the wife of a U.S marine killed in Iraq. It's part of a series of pictures that won a Pulitzer prize - one of the few that deserved it. If you want to see the rest, it's here.

This really shows one important thing about warfare and loss. To a historian, it is far too easy to forget that every single loss is immeasurable against the other. The families suffering is immense, and whether the cause is just or not, we cannot forget this. As Stalin said - one death is a tragedy, and one million a statistic. But to the families, it will always be that one death.

Born to Run. (Away)

Alright, so it has been a pretty eventful year so far. Somethings have happened that while neccessary, still hurt. But I don't hold regrets. Was the time of my life. But this post isn't about that. I'm heading off to university in September at long last, to do a history degree, something I've been meaning to do for so long but never dragged myself to actually getting it done. But now I'm going. So really, this year is about preparing to that. Seeing friends before I head off I guess. But that makes it seem permanent. Like I'm going to australia or the Colonies. Yes, colonies.

But anyway. Shall start updating this more often.

And I will now finish with a song!

Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules

Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these.

But of all the world's great heroes, there's none that can compare.

With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers.

Those heroes of antiquity ne'er saw a cannon ball,

Or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal.

But our brave boys do know it, and banish all their fears,

Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

Whene'er we are commanded to storm the palisades

Our leaders march with fuses and we with hand grenades.

We throw them from the glacis, about the enemies' ears.

Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.

And when the siege is over, we to the town repair.

The townsmen cry, "Hurrah, boys, here comes a Grenadier!

Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears!

Then sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.

Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health to those

Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loupèd clothes.

May they and their commanders live happy all their years.

With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

Eh

These few weeks have been different, to say the least. I can't help but give way to the overbearing feeling of helplessness. Like things are changing and I can't do anything about it. Or I don't know what to do at all. This isn't about one single thing, it's about everything. I just feel helpless in general. So if you excuse me, I'm going to attempt to learn a new language to keep my mind busy.