There is currently a "disinformation" campaign spreading nearly as rapidly as Stop Kony 2012, and I feel humbly inclined to make a statement, for whatever it's worth. As Director of Rock Your Cause, I would like to weigh in on the issue of cause advocacy:
Most simply, we need to take a step back. Kony 2012 isn't about black versus white, rich versus poor, first world versus third world, highbrow versus lowbrow. It's about good versus bad, and the power of social media to connect humanity more rapidly and intimately than ever before so that good human beings can unite to fight bad human beings.
Let's stop arguing about the video and start arguing about how to move forward and contribute to the welfare and integrity of Northern Uganda and other central African communities affected by the LRA. Forty million of us now have some very pressing and powerful information in our hands -- the true test of humanity is not whether we tweet about a free documentary film or "jump on a bandwagon." That is not what we should be scrutinizing.
How is it that within 24 hours we turned Stop KONY 2012 -- a campaign that was supposed to be about LRA affected individuals in need - into an embarrassingly narcissistic debate about our societal status quo? Kony 2012 involves us, but isn't about us (unless we're talking about apathy and inability to react to human rights violations around the world -- then it's a direct reflection of us). Further, the fact that the LRA is albeit absent from Northern Uganda isn't about Invisible Children being too late, it's about us --the collective human population -- being too late.
Let's stop wasting hours writing bubble-bursting blog posts and instead use that time to dig deep into what makes us human -- our brave hearts and insightful minds -- and come up with the next move. We're now equipped with powerful information that should inspire us to act boldly against people like Kony -- the weak links in the human population.
Can we quit the self-indulgent debate? Can we stop talking in circles about what Invisible Children should have and could have done? Can everyone who has the luxury of university-level education, freedom and time save their excessive hypothetical chatter and arguments for their dissertations?
Also, to all the critics: if you're so smart and all-knowing, then put your PhD brains to use to solve global problems, you're wasting your ingenuity in the blogosphere. Got a problem? Don't spew to in public spaces, grow some balls, use your brain,have a heart and contact Invisible Children directly with valid suggestions for how they can polish their philanthropic efforts. Or if you think you have all the answers, write up a partnership proposal and work hand in hand with IC on an initiative that speaks to your personal truth. Let's work together, not tear each other apart.
The true test is what we do now that we're in-the-know, and so far what we've managed to do it argue about our own lives. I hope to think we're better than that.
What if this tidal wave of awareness could grow beyond it's specific message and direct attention and action toward all those working right now to do something about the brokenness in the world?
The rest goes to overhead and filming and raising awareness. Without the filming and raising awareness, we wouldn't even be having this conversation, and most of the world would still be unaware of the LRA conflict. Yes it's unfortunate that an NGO has to spend so much money to get average people to pay attention, but if that's what it takes to potentially mobilize millions of people and pressure governments to bring Kony to justice, then I'll take it. They are playing a positive role that other NGO's have not been able to do, and for that, we should give them credit.
Congratulations, you just described the logic behind every atrocity ever committed.
"and come up with the next move"
If only that option were on the table. That seems to be the problem - people think that by joining this 2012 movement, a perfect plan for stopping Kony will drop out of the Sky. That's where the misinformation is. Even the creators of Kony 2012 realize how naive and silly that is. Kony 2012 is an effort to get politicians to do something based on our interests, not about us doing something - because we just can't.
Whether we debate or not is irrelevant, politicians aren't sitting in a room waiting for people on facebook to stop debating with each other and come to a consensus, as many people seem to think.
All of this assumes that politicians are stupid and don't know that fact.
Kony 2012 is about awareness. IC set out to make Joseph Kony, a horribly grotesque man famous - not to celebrate him, but to bring attention to his actions and put them to justice. It's safe to say that they have succeeded. 44M+ people have viewed the documentary and the campaign is being celebrated worldwide.
Furthermore, Kony 2012 is not about raising money. They state that loud and clear.
Yet all of this being said, there are still people who can consciously search for flaws in IC, their facts, their intentions, and their financials... and publicly criticize them for inconsequential reasons. Completely forgetting that 44M people now know who Joseph Kony is... 44M people can all agree that he is a weak link in the human population.
This campaign was meant to be about the power of social media as a tool for sharing a POSITIVE IMPORTANT message with the world... asking them to take action. Instead it has become a clear indication of Western societies dogmatic views on social justice, foreign aid, and philanthropy.
The incessant banter about what MAY be wrong with IC's efforts are unproductive/irrelevant. No matter where our views on social justice, foreign aid and philanthropy lie I think it's safe to assume we can all agree on the bigger picture here: Kony must be stopped.
"he is a weak link in the human population"
That's some incredibly frightening language for both of you to be using.
And he is a weak link - so was Hitler. They're not exactly using the terminology loosely.
You think this guy making $89,000 a year is somehow immoral? Do you know how much money you make for being a reality tv star? Who do you think is doing the world a greater disservice? If you want to talk about a diversion of resources, focus your energy elsewhere. Our greatest resources are the time, energy, and hope of the younger generations - if anything this video has helped to refocus some of those resources in the right direction.
How have they diverted resources from other 'more honest' campaigns?
Do you have a problem with simplifying an issue? If so, next time you or someone you know is at the doctors office, have the doctor talk to you in a non-simplified manner and see how well that works. To reach the masses, you can't talk to us like we all have masters degrees or PhDs in a related field. Your evening news channel or daily newspaper do the same thing, simplify.
Some of the people "criticizing" Stop KONY can appreciate the spotlight that IC has turned on the situations (and brilliantly, at that), but are curious to know what IC is going to do with the monies donated to them ($5M was the guesstimate offered by one of the members of IC who was interviewed on KISS92.5 FM in Toronto the morning of Thurs. March 10)
If they're just going to use it to fund the next video, that should be discussed.
if they're going to use it to directly support the afflicted in Central Africa (after expenses, of course), that, too, should be known.
Not everyone questioning this is against the idea, just curious about the proposed path to a solution. (the interviewee on the radio yesterday was full of lots of "We hope..." and "We gotta have faith that...")
Recall a humanitarian aid program in the 80s that supplied a region with hundreds of spade shovels to help them dig the earth...for a society of people who don't wear shoes. We just want a sensible response...
And let's ask the people of Vietnam, Republic of what they think of the outcome of American Advisors.