My Thoughts On Kony

My view from observing Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter, and reading the news + learning more about IC, over the past few days. I do not expect you to agree with me.

To any individual who is angry or annoyed that a cause they have been a long term supporter of has suddenly gained attention, should really look at themselves. What exactly are you feeling indignant about? This isn’t about you. If you truly supported the Invisible Children, you would be more than happy about the recent influx of support from the masses.

I will admit I do feel like some people are blindly supporting the cause, if all you did was watch the video then you have so much more to be informed on. I’m not going to lie, I learnt about the Invisible Children many years ago at high school, but besides feeling great sadness after seeing the plight of so many children, I failed to act and my concern was purely transient. However, seeing the KONY2012 video at a more mature age has made a much greater impact.

This is probably highly hypocritical of me to say, but if people are being so moved by the plight of the IC, and believe it is the most imminent and terrible crime against humanity. I cannot but call you ignorant. Children are suffering all over the world, and maybe instead of being shown a video before we are interested in helping, we should seek out causes, funds and organisations, and ways to help without having to be told to in the first place. Now that is showing true care.

Of course, this is an incredibly idyllist way of thinking but how about I put it down to something more simple and achievable. If you’re willing to purchase an action kit for the KONY2012 cause, then why not donate to charities supporting starving children? Give away $30 for nothing in return.

Also allow me to allude to the accusations that the Invisible Children have been misusing donations. Don’t just read the fact, ‘31% of the funds they receive actually go toward helping someone’ and then label IC as some treacherous, money laundering organisation that’s out to fool us all. Give a thought to the fact that yes, production costs are high, but with their videos they have amassed widespread support. This is besides the point, I’m not here to judge whether their use of money is right or wrong. I would just like to reiterate that if you do want to help make a change in the world there are also plenty of other organisations to look into.

Bringing this back to the main topic, the aim of the video created by IC is to make Joseph Kony and his crimes ‘famous’, so to speak. Whether it be through true care or people jumping on the ‘bandwagon’, as I’ve seen some put it, the fact remains the same. Bitch about it, hate it, never give another thought to it, love it or support it. Awareness is spreading, and that is the ultimate goal of KONY.

I’ve bored you all enough.

Love, Lisa.

For anyone who has no idea what I've just wrote a mini essay on, here is the video for your viewing pleasure: