Eastern Ugandans unite to battle violent extremism

Park Univ. Professor Ken Christpher teaches "Terrorism 101".

The regional government leader, a big, well dressed man, practically leapt out of his seat, and turned to face the reporter. Pounding the air with his fist, the animated leader addressed a criticism leveled by the reporter. As the leader spoke, several others raised their hands to be recognized while others began to loudly make their point without being called upon.

This happened during the first few hours of the first day of our three day peace media and counterterrorism seminar here in Mbale in Eastern Uganda, near the Kenya border. The seminar is part of a peace media and counterterrorism project sponsored by the U.S. Embassy-Kampala.

My colleagues (Park University professors Ken Christopher and John Hamilton) and I managed to restore order in that instance and several other times when chaos threatened to overtake the room. What we discovered as things settled down was that while the 20 local and regional government leaders, police, army, and media representatives assembled certainly have their differences, they definitely share one parcel of common ground: the desire to combat terrorism.


Professor John Hamilton, collaborating on a PSA.

Interestingly, it was the term terrorism itself that lit the fuse that launched the government leader into his forceful speech. In Uganda, protesters have been arrested (some this week, in fact) and charged with terrorism. The argument between the government leader and the journalist was whether these anti-government protesters are indeed terrorists.

Seeing the threat of the seminar degenerating into a political brawl, an astute Professor Hamilton decided to re-frame the discussion. Since terrorism is such a loaded term here in Uganda, Hamilton wisely dictated the assemblage that we would, henceforth, use the term violent extremism, a term that carries no extraneous baggage. It worked like a charm, since all those gathered agreed that violence was something to be avoided.

Seminar participants, hard at work.

 By the end of the seminar, the participants may not have become best friends, but they did learn to work together in teams consisting of government representatives and one or two journalists. First, each team produced radio public service announcements that urge the public to remain vigilant against violent extremism. These PSA’s will air on local radio stations. Secondly, the participants produced a plan, a blueprint, for future cooperation among government agencies and the media that commit both sides to cooperating to combat violent extremism.

It was encouraging to see these Ugandans set aside their political and professional differences and unite to keep the public safe here in Eastern Uganda.

--Also follow our Ugandan project on Twitter @PeaceJourn --
--Or, join the Peace Journalism group on Facebook--

Professors learn invaluable lessons in Uganda

 


It’s always fun to show friends places that you already know.

I had the change to do just that today in Kampala with my friends and colleagues John Hamilton (pix 1, left) and Ken Christopher (pix 1, right and pix 2), both of whom teach with me at Park University. I lived for almost a year in Uganda. This is the first trip here for both of my colleagues.

As we drove through the streets, it was fascinating to watch their reaction to Uganda’s many eccentricities. For starters, my friends couldn’t believe the traffic and especially the boda-bodas, motorcycle taxis that zoom in and out of traffic with a suicidal, maniacal fervor. They also noted Kampala’s entrepreneurial spirit that is reflected in the thousands of tiny mom and pop shops and kiosks (sometimes, nothing more than a table and a chair) selling everything from vegetables to cell phone recharging.

The strongest impression on all of us was made during a brief tour of the working-class neighborhood of Kasanga, where I had been several times before. Our tour guide was Tabu, my friend and our driver. John and Ken were, I think, both equally taken aback by the difficult living conditions and the kindness and openness of the people. We visited a church where they were having Sunday supper (beans, potatoes, and spaghetti), and we were all greeted like long lost cousins. We took pictures of the church and of the kids, who squealed with delight when shown their digital image.

During our tour, we briefly chatted with a young university student who was sitting on a stoop studying for her exams. We did our professorial duty, and urged her to study hard. She smiled, and assured us that she was doing her very best.

For all of us, I think the day was a count-your-blessings lesson. For me, it was also a reminder that Uganda is a country in need, and that it is worth my time and effort to try to do my tiny little part to make it a better place.

Off to Uganda, Kenya to teach peace journalism

Our efforts to bring peace journalism to Uganda continue next week. We fly to Uganda on Thursday. Then, myself and three colleagues from Park University's criminal justice department will be teaching six peace media and counterterrorism seminars in Kampala, Mbale, and Fort Portal. The project, sponsored by the U.S. State Department in conjunction with the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University, began with two seminars last December. (click here to see archived photos and stories about the December seminars).

I'm looking forward to sharing Uganda with fellow professors Ken Christopher, John Hamilton, and Carol Getty. I'm especially anxious for my colleagues to meet my Ugandan friends Caesar, Tabu, Betty, and Gloria Laker of the Peace Journalism Foundation of East Africa. Gloria will be coordinating our activities in Uganda. She does an outstanding job, and has made me look good for several years now.
After Uganda, Gloria and I will travel to Kenya to teach several peace and electoral journalism seminars.

You can follow all of our (mis)adventures on this site and on Twitter @PeaceJourn during the next few months.

Leaders for Peace

This is the text of the speech I'm presenting at the induction ceremony of the Sigma Alpha Pi honorary society on Sunday, May 6 at Park University in Parkville, MO. Sorry about the all caps--it's just my style when writing speeches.

"SINCE YOU’RE ALL IN SIGMA ALPHA PI—THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR LEADERSHIP—AND I’M NOT, I’M HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME FIGURE OUT A THING OR TWO THIS AFTERNOON… A GOOD PLACE TO START WOULD BE DISCOVERING WHAT LEADERSHIP REALLY IS. I’VE BEEN DOING SOME READING ON THE SUBJECT, BUT MUST CONFESS THAT THIS HASN’T HELPED ME GET A GRASP ON WHAT LEADERS REALLY ARE…. HERE ARE SOME QUOTES I DRUMMED UP…

1950’S POLITICIAN ADLAI STEVENSON SAID OF LEADERSHIP, “It's hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse”….

THE GREAT BASEBALL MANAGER CASEY STENGEL SAID, “The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those who are still undecided”… I’M HOPING THAT YOU WILL ALL BE, AT MINIMUM, UNDECIDED ABOUT ME AFTER THIS SPEECH….

COMEDIAN GROUCHO MARX FAMOUSLY NOTED THAT “Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men -- the other 999 follow women” …

LEWIS GRIZZARD SAID OF THOSE WHO WILL LEAD, “Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes”.

FINALLY, ESSAYIST DAVE BARRY MAY HAVE SAID IT BEST WHEN HE WROTE, “When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that person is crazy. “

I THINK IT PROBABLY DOES TAKE A SPECIAL KIND OF PERSON TO LEAD—AND MAYBE JUST A TOUCH OF THE CRAZINESS THAT DAVE BARRY MENTIONS. PERHAPS IF WE CAN’T FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT A LEADER IS, WE CAN STILL GET A BETTER GRIP ON WHAT A LEADER DOES. I THINK MOST OF US, WHEN ASKED TO NAME A LEADER, WOULD NAME A POLITICIAN OR PERHAPS A BUSINESS PERSON. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE…EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE POLITICIANS…AND I SUPPOSE SOME WOULD CONSIDER THEM LEADERS.

HOWEVER, SINCE YOU ARE ALL SIGMA ALPHA PI, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME CONFIRM AN IDEA I HAVE ABOUT LEADERSHIP…. OR MAYBE MORE PRECISELY, WHAT LEADERSHIP ISN’T. I THINK LEADERSHIP ISN’T ABOUT ANYTHING SELF-SERVING…. THUS, MY IDEA IS THAT A REAL LEADER DOESN’T SEEK LEADERSHIP TO MAKE HIMSELF OR HERSELF RICH OR FAMOUS… A REAL LEADER DOESN’T WANT HIS FACE ON A BILLBOARD, OR THREE YACHTS AND A CONDO IN THE BAHAMAS, OR THE EGO-FEEDING RUSH OF HAVING A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE APPLAUD AND CHANT HIS NAME… A REAL LEADER DOESN’T WANT TO STAR IN A REALITY TV SHOW. SORRY, KARDASHIANS…

SO IF WE KNOW WHAT A REAL LEADER ISN’T, THEN WHAT IS A REAL LEADER? I GOOGLED ‘DEFINE LEADERSHIP’, AND GOT 53 MILLION HITS… I DIDN’T MUCH LIKE THE DEFINITIONS I GOT, WHICH WERE MOSTLY ABOUT GUIDING OR DIRECTING A GROUP. I SUPPOSE THIS IS FINE ON PAPER, BUT I’D LIKE MORE OUT OF MY LEADERS…. WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IN A LEADER IS SOMEONE WHO PUTS SERVICE TO OTHERS AND TO THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOVE THEIR OWN SELFISH INTERESTS. REAL LEADERS CAN AND DO SERVE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, BUT I ADMIRE MOST THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE.

IN MY MIND, BECOMING LEADERS FOR PEACE IS THE BEST APPLICATION OF THE ABILITIES THAT STUDENTS LIKE YOU POSSESS. THOSE CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDE…

1. INTEGRITY… WHAT BETTER WAY TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY BY SERVING THE CAUSE OF PEACE?

2. DEDICATION… HARD WORK AND PERSERVERENCE ARE ADMIRED AND RESPECTED BY ALL IN ANY FIELD, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PEACE.

3. HUMILITY…SERVING OTHERS FIRST MEANS THAT YOU AND YOUR EGO TAKE A BACK SEAT…

4. ASSERTIVENESS …WHEN YOU ARE ASSERTIVE IN ADDRESSING YOUR OWN NEEDS, YOU MAY RIGHTLY BE ACCUSED OF SELFISHNESS. WHEN YOU ARE ASSERTIVE IN HELPING SECURE PEACE, AND IN SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE PEACE, YOUR ASSERTIVENESS WILL BECOME A VIRTUE RATHER THAN A VICE.

5. COMMUNICATION… YOU CAN USE YOUR SKILLS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THEIR COMMUNITIES…AND A DEVELOPED COMMUNITY IS USUALLY A PEACEFUL ONE.

6. VISION … I KNOW MANY OF YOU, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE BURSTING WITH GREAT IDEAS… IDEAS FOR A BUSINESS OR NON PROFIT OR FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL… WHY NOT HARNESS YOUR IMAGINATION, YOUR VISION, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEACE?

7. INSPIRATION… A TRUE LEADER LEADS BY EXAMPLE. THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO INSPIRE OTHERS THAN TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO PEACE, AND TO SERVING OTHERS…

HOW DO YOU HARNESS THESE ABILITIES, THESE CHARACTERISTICS? HOW DO YOU USE YOUR INTEGRITY, DEDICATION, HUMILITY, ASSERTIVENESS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, INSPIRATION, AND VISION TO BECOME A LEADER FOR PEACE?...LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES, SOME WAYS YOU MIGHT BECOME A PEACE LEADER….

ONE WAY IS TO JOIN AND PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN ANY NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING PEACE ORGANIZATIONS RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY… PEOPLE TO PEOPLE INTERNATIONAL COMES TO MIND. THEIR MOTTO IS PEACE THROUGH UNDERSTANDING, AND THEY DO WORK HERE AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD TO BRING PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND WORK FOR PEACE. IN FACT, PARK UNIVERSITY HAS A STUDENT PTPI CHAPTER. PEOPLE TO PEOPLE IS LEAD BY MARY EISENHOWER, ONE OF THE BEST LEADERS I KNOW. SHE’S TERRIFIC BECAUSE OF HOW SHE USES HER LEADERSHIP QUALITIES TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO UNITE FOR A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD….

YOU COULD ALSO BECOME A LEADER FOR PEACE BY JOINING A ROTARY CLUB, OR THE STUDENT VERSION OF ROTARY, CALLED ROTARACT. ROTARY’S MOTTO IS THE SAME AS MY DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP—SERVICE ABOVE SELF. THE PARKVILLE ROTARY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS FULL OF LEADERS DEDICATED TO MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THEY’VE SELFLESSLY ASSISTED A SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM IN UGANDA, AND IN DOING SO IMPROVED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF HUNGRY CHILDREN. PARK’S ROTARACT CHAPTER HAS BEEN SPREADING PEACE BY COLLECTING SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR KIDS IN LIBERIA…KIDS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD LITERALLY HAVE NO PENS, PAPER, OR BOOKS….

OF COURSE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO JOIN AN EXISTING ORGANIZATON TO BECOME A LEADER FOR PEACE… SINCE YOU ARE LEADERS, YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN ORGANIZATION!! HERE’S THE FORMULA—SEE A NEED, FILL THAT NEED. YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO PROMOTE MIDDLE EAST PEACE? START A WEBSITE, CREATE AN ONLINE PETITION, ORGANIZE A FORUM WHERE YOU GET PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI SPEAKERS TOGETHER… SEE A NEED, FILL THAT NEED. WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP POOR KIDS IN UGANDA? DO WHAT PARK STUDENT SIMON SENFUKA DID….MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY, GET DONATIONS OF SOCCER EQUIPMENT AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND FLY THEM ALL TO UGANDA… SEE A NEED, FILL THAT NEED.

NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE WANGARI MATHAII OF KENYA, WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY, DIDN’T START OUT WITH A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN MIND… THE NEED SHE SAW WAS DE-FORESTATION IN KENYA, AND HER IDEA WAS TO PLANT A FEW TREES. WELL, A FEW TREES BECAME A FEW HUNDRED-THOUSAND TREES, AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THE GREEN MOVEMENT WAS BORN IN KENYA…THIS MOVEMENT HAS NOT ONLY HAS HELPED THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT NOW CONCENTRATES AS WELL ON ISSUES OF PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

WHILE I’M STILL NOT SURE HOW TO DEFINE LEADERSHIP, I DO THINK I KNOW WHAT A GREAT LEADER LOOKS LIKE.. A GREAT LEADER, FOR ME, LOOKS LIKE WANGARI MATHAII OR SIMON SENFUKA OR MARY EISENHOWER…

AS I LOOK OUT ON YOU LEADERS, ALL I CAN THINK IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP YOU FROM USING YOUR ABILITIES TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER, AND MORE PEACEFUL, PLACE. THANK YOU.

--Follow me on Twitter @PeaceJourn --

Sensational photo unnecessary

In peace journalism, we’re always asking ourselves if the story can be told in a less-inflammatory way. I was left wondering this week if this notion ever entered the minds of the editors of the Los Angeles Times.

In case you missed it, last week brought the latest in a seemingly endless stream of offensive pictures of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. This time, the photos showed service people mugging it up with dismembered “enemy” corpses and body parts. It’s noteworthy, and perhaps discouraging, that there was a discussion about the grizzly photos at the Poynter website. Unfortunately, the discussion centered only on the placement of a photo of soldiers with dismembered legs on the LA Times website (top, dominant) vs. the printed version (smaller photo but still above the fold).

This discussion, it seems to me, missed the point, which is not placement of the photo, but instead the desirability of using the picture in the first place. As one of my Park University students astutely asked, could the story have been told without the photo? In what way did the photo add to the reader’s understanding of the story? As peace journalists, we always consider the consequences of the choices we make as journalists. Using sensational photos and stories in the past has led to riots in Afghanistan which have literally led to the loss of lives, both Afghan and American. The same could have happened in this instance, although fortunately it has not (thus far). I believe a description of the photo would have been sufficient to gain an understanding of what happened.

By using the photo, the Los Angeles Times chose sensationalism over prudence. It’s fortunate that their decision did not cost lives.

Peace Journalist magazine--get yours free

The first edition of "The Peace Journalist" has been published. Click here for free download. See previous post for more details.