Asking why: The Kony Movement

Yesterday the Kony Video spread like wildfire over facebook. Everyone had it, on their profile, spreading the message that Kony needs to be captured and brought to justice. Now today I have woken up and checked facebook and everyone is having numerous opinions about this video which I think is awesome! I think it is great that people are critically analyzing media that is thrown at us. My criticisms and appreciations of the video are as follows:
It was an effective use of social media in spreading a powerful message
The organization focused on one person and had a clear goal presented (whether that is where their funding is ACTUALLY going or not…)
Transparency of funding I think is an issue
Encouraging viewers to mask their towns with posters and vandalism in April is creating a whole other issue of polluting our neighborhoods…
Overall, I think it was an effective video and presented an issue that is quite relevant, even though there are many other issues out there that could be presented. Other people have presented ideas like there are other injustices going on right now (like the one in Syria) killing thousands of people. I think it is good that we can now talk about the problems of the world and inform people, but maybe not all at once. Another person stated that yes this video has become annoying as it is on everyone’s facebook wall, but it is better than having people update about their workouts and homework, which I think is true. And some people are very informed and state that the current president has done a lot of injustices and killed many people. Once again I think that it was a good thing that this invisible children organization focused on one person and one cause.
One really good article is the “Stop Kony yes. but don’t stop asking questions” and everyone should give it a good read.
Here is some of the opinions found on facebook. State your opinion below, I would love to hear what you think!!
“I’m gonna be the bad guy here for a second with these Kony 2012 movements.

I posted the video because a) the kid was cute and b) Kony absolutely deserves to be brought to justice, that I certainly agree with. HOWEVER, people seem to be completely overlooking that the Ugandan military is using this entire Kony campaign (the funds and the awareness) as a thin excuse to cross borders and steal resources from other countries like diamonds and timber. Not to mention the recruitment of children by the LRA has decreased 80%, there has been a peace treaty signed and there has been a rapid decrease in the violence since the filming for this began in 2003. This isn’t due to the Invisible Children organisation - it’s because Ugandan military and the ICC have intervened. The Ugandan army also has a history of leaving high HIV rates in communities behind them wherever they go, and this is essentially what Invisible Children is lobbying to fund.

Also, the guy we’re helping catch Kony for has used child soldiers himself. Except he won that war (Ugandan Bush War) and the Acholi (Kony’s people) lost. He’s now the president of Uganda, helped kill 6 million people in the DRC during the Second Congo War and is not exactly someone we should be propping up by sending military advisors and funds (albeit for the purposes of catching Kony). The history of the wars that happened these past three decades in Central Africa is incredibly complicated and the film ignores all of that. Yes let’s bring Kony to justice, but let’s not prop up and fund a dictator and his army while doing so.

I want to reiterate that I’m not saying we should do nothing, but before we donate money ($60 for their kit or however much per month) and go around vandalizing major cities on behalf of an apparent charitable organization, it’s important people do their own research and draw their own conclusions instead of blindly following the message of an emotionally charged video.” - Kassandra Cruciano
“i love how people bitch about how annoying the kony2012 campaign is,
about how annoying it is when people fb blast their daily routine/gym habits,
about how you hate dumb bitches & heartless douchebags..?

how about we all pull our heads out of our asses and start being positive? wonderful.” -Chelsea Stamp
“k, so no everyone’s now finally aware of the Lord’s Resistance Army’s initiatives over the last 20 or so years, I’d like to bring your attention to a place called Syria, where the government is currently massacring unarmed civilians by the thousands. Like right now. Sorry things are a bit more complicated there, but hopefully you’ve got 4 minutes for a (very) quick background. Assad 2012?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElRoN-uNli4&feature=player_embedded”

-Lee Folis


This is what I like to see! Question and be critical!

How not to be an anti-feminist ...

CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!
So this girl…I can’t even call her a woman because..well you watch the video and see for yourself. We have gone so far with woman’s rights and equality among men and women that it scares me that there are people (including WOMEN) out there that have these views. I even respect that you want to be a stay at home wife and have six kids, GO FOR IT! It doesn’t bother me and I’m sure you would love it. There is nothing wrong with that. But making a video like this just makes you sound so unintelligent and rude. I mean she said it for herself, “I don’t have all my facts straight”…then don’t post a video. Please.
The point of my post is that perhaps you don’t like all that feminists have to say, but that doesn’t mean that you should go about talking about the role of women this way. I mean, I probably don’t agree with everything that feminists have to say but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect everything that women activists have done and accomplished. I am so thankful that I can go to school and speak my mind on this blog. It’s alright that women want to be housewives, I personally don’t see that as backtracking, but I think that EVERY woman should have goals that she wants to achieve personally, apart from her family goals and strive to achieve them. I think that’s what this girl in the video should think about. Perhaps she doesn’t have career goals (clearly youtube sensation is out of the question) , but she should at least fill her head with knowledge or go experience the world and not take anything for granted.
Please comment about the video or about what I’ve posted below :)