Here's the deal: We are all literate people who, I think, have a better understanding of the world just because we read. That being said, I really want to know what all of you smart people think about this internet phenomenon know as KONY 2012. If you don't know, the link is below.
That being said, here is my opinion: Obviously this dude needs to be stopped but they have spent 10 years expanding their company instead of spending it on changing anything. I disagree with the argument that taking him out wouldnt help but i dont see how anything they are doing helps either. They are wasting money on "awareness." Not to mention the fact that they are expecting the government to intervene. When has the US government intervening in a conflict EVER turned out anything but dead US soldiers? I say let someone who is more directly involved handle it. Where is the UN in all of this. America is not the world police.
Here are a few tasty links (meat free):
Original video: http://vimeo.com/37119711
Not against, but not Pro: http://seet.weebly.com/1/post/2012/03/concerning-kony-2012.html
And.....GO!
I think this is a great article that sums up the phenomenon. We're letting an organization somewhat blind the actual situation take the reins on this one.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-deibert/joseph-kony-2012-children_...
This really sums it up.
Panda, thanks for that article. I've always had a bad taste in my mouth when I think of IC. Now I know why.
I always found it odd during the first, second and third (yes, three) Congolese civil wars, the only coverage of the events (which killed countless millions, was so brutal two new amendments to the Geneva convention had to be created and involved 13 nations) was a Leonardo Dicaprio movie. As I recall Monica Lewinsky was big news at the time. We haven't even brought all the war criminals from the Khmer Rouge to justice yet. You're right though he is a fucking monster.
I think it's time for us to wake up to the reality of the situation -- these "non-profit" corporations are capitalizing on our guilt and using it as ammunition to make money.
I understand the sentiment behind Kony 2012, but where does justice end and retributive sanctioning begin? There are many problems with this mission statement - mostly the fact that ramifications for foreign involvement with an already corrupt African government are being ignored for the sake of a manhunt. Should Kony be brought to justice? Of course. Will there be a line of people to inherit his position as kingpin? Absolutely. This will not stop or even hinder guerrilla warfare in Africa, or child soldiers. You start change by enabling Africa to disassemble rebel armies which we've been trying to do for decades. I fully support Invisible Children, but their headhunt for Kony is something I can't stand behind. It is a potentially devastating political move for American foreign policy.
It is unfortunate that all of these people who (most likely) protested the Iraq war instantly convert their polity to supporting interventional, renegade, foreign policy when it is promoted in an emotionally charged, easily accessible, and hip way.
http://jezebel.com/5891269/think-twice-before-donating-to-kony-2012-the-meme-du-jour
Here are some other articles. I find it troubling that a lot of people watch the KONY 2012 video, and that's their only source of information.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/311353/20120308/kony-2012-video-invisible-children-uganda-lra.htm
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/311119/20120308/stop-kony-invisible-children-s-2012-campaign.htm
http://www.channel4.com/news/kony-2012-video-could-be-damaging-for-uganda
Another video I found today that is definitely worth watching:
I just felt like the video was waaayy to self-congratulatory and short on actual substance. I tried, I really tried to watch the whole thing, I want to believe that at the end of it there are actual concrete ways to help... but I doubt it. I knew it was a bad sign when 9 minutes into the video I had learned nothing of this Kony individual.
The US can't go around invading countries whenever there are international criminals committing crimes against humanity. It's tough, but it's true. Saddam Hussein was a total dick, he was murdering Kurds, he was a despot. Did we make Iraq better by removing him from power? Well, we lost a lot of American lives, more or less started a Civil War between the Shi'ite and Sunni Iraqis, and if you want to look at it this way: Iraq hasn't met their OPEC Oil export quotas since we invaded. I mean, it's a crass way to evaluate human cost, but if they can't pump and sell their most valuable natural resource then how stable is the country? How much have we really improved the situation? Not enough to say "This is how we will deal with asshole dictators" that much is for sure. Kony isn't alone, there are probably dozens of motherfuckers waiting to fill his shoes in Uganda and that is just in fucking Uganda.
Sanctions will only make it worse.
Now, if the solution was something along the lines of "The International Criminal Court, alongside the UN, need a strike force to deal with heavily armed and defended madmen who think that they are badder than Bin Laden, and should be authorized to strike against people on the top 10 most wanted list." Then I'd at least have to give them credit for innovation.
But nobody would get behind that, because it sounds like an Orwellian-SuperState and, honestly, who's to say that Putin doesn't belong on that list, or that he won't get there sooner or later? The Chinese Chairmen tend to do pretty messed up shit too... I mean, would this strike force have had the "constitutional authority" (if not the political will) to deal with, say, George W Bush? I hated Bush, I still hate Bush, I will never forgive the Republican party for George W Bush (I was a Republican until 9/11).
But if some international criminal tribunal said that he was in such gross violation of their charter with his torture, his warmongering, and his corruption that they were going to kill an American president, well, I don't give a fuck if that President is Bush, I'd be pretty goddamn pissed off. I don't think they either could or should obtain the authority to start killing off world leaders, but, I mean, that's how you deal with this problem, you give someone the legal authority and firepower to bust into holdouts and kill world leaders, and once you set that precedent it soon becomes VERY dangerous. Putin would be dead in 3 months, if it took that long.
Public Masturbation... there are so many ways to compare that to the criticisms of the whole Kony 2012 project that I don't even know where to start.
Cops aren't pressing charges, but it looks like he's in a Mental Health Ward at the minute which means that the laws of "regular people" don't apply and he can be detained "as long as necessary."
But it's a rap you can beat. Wish him the best of luck.
But seriously? Public Masturbation?
YES! I found my joke.
I won't bore my Twitter followers or Facebook friends by repeating it though. I just wanted to establish that I did in fact find a good way to go with it.
I need to get a freind so I can do a double face palm.
Working around big animals is tough, I've been kicked a few times but nothing as epic as that !
@Nick - A lot of articles use "public masturbation", but if you search Jason Russell there are slightly different takes between what actually went on. Apparantly he was just making lewd gestures at people.
"Mental Breakdown" comes up a lot in the articles, though. Perhaps it was. I'm sure drugs were involved in some way, but it's obvious that Invisible Children is trying to cover the damage with their press release.
I bet it was PCP. That makes people do that type of stuff.
@Matt - TYPO!!!
I hate seeing a meme with a typo. Especially one calling someone else stupid.
Holy shit! I didn't even notice...maybe it's there on purpose. Either way, kinda funny and ironic. My shitty meme stands! Riker doesn't need good spelling! Laugh dammit!
@Bek: Huffington post....exaggerates things?
I should have known this from every headline about everything any news anchor ever said on air.