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To Stop a Warlord
To Stop a Warlord: My Story of Justice, Grace, and the Fight for Peace | Shannon Sedgwick Davis
13 posts | 1 read | 12 to read
One womans inspiring true story of an unlikely alliance to stop the atrocities of a warlord, proving that there is no limit to what we can do, even in the face of unspeakable injustice and impossible odds This compelling and inspiring book beautifully moves each of us to take action to help the most vulnerable among us.Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Late one night in the summer of 2010, Shannon Sedgwick Davis, a lawyer, human rights advocate, and Texas mom to two young boys, first met a Ugandan general to discuss an unconventional plan to stop Joseph Kony, a murderous warlord whod terrorized communities in four countries across Central and East Africa. For twenty-five years, Kony and his Lords Resistance Army had killed over a hundred thousand people, displaced millions, and abducted tens of thousands of children, forcing them to become child soldiers. After Sedgwick Davis met with survivors and community leaders, aid workers and lawmakers, it was clear that the current international systems were failing to protect the most vulnerable. Guided by the strength of her beliefs and convictions, Sedgwick Davis knew she had to help other parents to have the same right she hadto go to sleep each night knowing that their children were safe. But Sedgwick Davis had no roadmap for how to stop a violent armed group. She would soon step far outside the bounds of traditional philanthropy and activism and partner her human rights organization, the Bridgeway Foundation, with a South African private military contractor and a specialized unit within the Ugandan army. The experience would bring her to question everything she had previously believed about her role as a humanitarian, about the meaning of justice, and about the very nature of good and evil. In To Stop a Warlord, Shannon Sedgwick Davis tells the story, for the first time, of the unprecedented collaboration she helped build with the aim of finally ending Joseph Konys warand the unforgettable journey on an unexpected path to peace. A powerful memoir that reads like a thriller, this is a story that asks us just how hard we would fight for what we believe in. 100 percent of the authors net proceeds from this book will go to organizations seeking justice and protection for civilians in conflict zones. This is an extraordinary memoir by an extraordinary leaderits impossible to read without feeling moved to do more to help those with less.Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take
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The author, already dedicated to helping the least fortunate on the planet, took a decade of her life to bring down the evil LRA operating in 4 African countries. Through sheer persistence and support from the likes of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Warren Buffet‘s son Howard (a dedicated humanitarian himself), Davis achieved almost the impossible over unbelievable odds. Tutu‘s description is accurate: this a beautiful and moving account of her ⬇️

Texreader story. I hope and anticipate that she will share with the world her next story, whatever it is, which is sure to be equally human and triumphant as this one. And I‘m so proud she‘s from my hometown of San Antonio. You go girl!! I highly recommend this book. All proceeds go to her foundation to carry out more unprecedented missions like this one. (edited) 2y
Texreader The four countries where this all occurred are #Uganda, #DemocraticRepublicofCongo, #DRCongo, #DRC, #CentralAfricanRepublic, #CAR, and #SouthSudan. Thanks again for the motivation to read this through the #readingafrica2022 challenge, @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB 2y
Librarybelle Sounds amazing, and such a great local connection to you! 2y
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Before I finish it I have to share a coincidence about this book. The author, from San Antonio, was receiving a humanitarian award for her work documented in the book. I heard her speak & bought several copies of the book. Sometime later, when husband became scout leader for our son‘s Boy Scout troop we discovered husband knows her husband and oldest son because they‘re in the troop! I‘m now trying to encourage lining her up to speak at an ⬇️

TheBookHippie How wonderful! 2y
Librarybelle 😁 2y
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It‘s a frigid evening here in south Texas so I‘ve got a little heater here while I‘m close to wrapping up this book.

#Uganda, #DemocraticRepublicofCongo, #DRCongo, #DRC, #CentralAfricanRepublic, #CAR, and #SouthSudan. #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle The best type of heater! 2y
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Archbishop Desmond Tutu to the author: “It‘s not that I‘m not sad. It‘s that I choose joy. Even when we‘re crying – especially when we‘re crying – we have to find joy in the world.”

#Uganda, #DemocraticRepublicofCongo, #DRCongo, #DRC, #CentralAfricanRepublic, #CAR, and #SouthSudan. #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Soubhiville I love these wise words. 2y
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“To everything there is season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die…” I love this so much. The Bible also may have saved his life.

#Uganda, #DemocraticRepublicofCongo, #DRCongo, #DRC, #CentralAfricanRepublic, #CAR, and #SouthSudan. #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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Kimzey Powerful words! 2y
GingerAntics This seems so applicable to our own country right now. This should be the mentality everywhere, and then we wouldn‘t have as many problems. Too bad we can‘t teach this in schools anymore. 2y
Texreader @Kimzey @GingerAntics The author blew me away when she spoke and I bought multiple copies of her book when I met her for my in-laws who‘d lived in Africa. She does what she says and clearly has a backbone made of steel to do the things she‘s done. She‘s the braver Texas version of Amal Clooney, the international lawyer, because she literally gets in the middle of a war zone to protect the innocent. 2y
GingerAntics 😮 I‘m going to have to check out this woman!!! Talk about a bad🤬 2y
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In between chapters about the author‘s mission, there are chapters about David Ocitti born in 1986 in #Uganda. This is his first chapter and it tells about his community‘s idyllic daily life but also the constant fear of being born into and living in a war zone. #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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Map of the Central African countries whose populations have been terrorized by warlord Joseph Kony. #Uganda, #DemocraticRepublicofCongo, #DRC, #CentralAfricanRepublic, #CAR, and #SouthSudan. #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle Yay for maps! 2y
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I bought this book about two years ago after hearing the author speak about her humanitarian fight in central Africa. I managed perfect timing to read it now for #readingafrica2022. Yes, that quote at the top is a recommendation from Desmond Tutu. They were close and I suspect if she were able she was probably at his funeral. @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB Interesting!! 2y
Librarybelle I‘m anxious to see your thoughts on this one! 2y
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No words. The story I‘m sure will speak for itself.

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I met the author today and heard her speak. Her stories are amazing and she‘s an amazing person.

Totally small world, I came home to tell my husband about it and he knows her husband, our sons are the same age in Boy Scouts together, and my husband has even met her not realizing she was “famous.”

Crazeedi That's a very cool story! Isnt life amazing! 4y
Bookzombie Wow, this sounds amazing. It‘s great that you got to meet her. 🙂 4y
Texreader @Crazeedi @bookzombie I was also amazed that Desmond Tutu recommended her book, calling her “Sister Shannon.” Can you imagine?? 4y
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I get to hear this local hero speak on Thursday. I‘m looking forward to it. Hope they have her book for sale there.