Yesterday I had the great privilege to meet Omekongo. He came to UNI to speak for Congo Week. All I can say is wow. This man is powerful. I had to hold back tears countless times as he recited his poems.
Omekongo's family is from Congo and has seen first hand the terrors that go on there. His family is the reason we, the members of STAND, do what we do. We need to do all we can to stop the terrible atrocities that are happening in Congo. We need to stand up and fight for what is right.
As we sat at dinner, he said something that really hit me and got me thinking...he was talking about how he is working on getting his PHD but it is taking him forever because, "Do I want to change the world or write papers?". This hit me because this is the struggle I face many days. Every time I sit down to write a paper, I end up surfing the web and end up at the same few sites...
all of these sites get me thinking...how can I help. Why am I just sitting here writing a paper about pointless topics that will not do me much good in the future. How can I, a little 23 year old white girl from the middle of Iowa do anything? But I am doing something. Right now.
By doing this...writing about it. Advocating. Its a start. I learned last night that there is no small role when it comes to helping. Voicing what I know is the best way to start.
Wearing my toms. Wearing my falling whistle around my neck. These small things start conversations which in turn leads to opening eyes and minds.
Here is a clip from last night. Unfortunately my camera died before I could get the whole poem so there is a video of the same poem, Welcome to the Congo from Omekongo's speech in DC last week.
