This is part one of three blog posts I will put up about the current Kony Craze. I'd like to invite you to read all of them... look through the links posted here, and do some exploring for yourself.
I know that with these posts I am opening myself up to a lot of criticism and disagreement. I may not respond to everyone who comments... these are just my humble thoughts. At the end of the 3rd post, I will try to list every web site I even looked for these posts... there are a lot of them!
Before I begin with my thoughts on Kony 2012 and Invisible
Children, I want to say a few things.
First of all, I will probably be wrong on at least some of what I
say. I do not know everything, and am
prideful enough to actually weight into the conversation… which means people
will disagree with me.
I am trying to read as much as I can, and think as much as
possible about what I have experienced here in Uganda to give you my
perspective. Some of these thoughts have
been stewing in my mind for some time, I just haven’t had a clear enough block
of time to really write about them. I
hope that it is some way helpful.
The first thing I want to say is the Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance
Amy are one of the world’s most brutal army.
When Rush Limbaugh said what he said about them, I was infuriated. (Full
transcript here : http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/14/obama_invades_uganda_targets_christians
) My family got a very intense email about how mad I was at his comments. (Note:
He still has not recanted his words, or apologized for blasting
incorrect information.)
The history of Uganda is a difficult and complicated one, as all
history is. Several wars have ravaged
this beautiful country and left a huge human tool in its wake. The LRA is one of the worst armies in the
history, I don't want to get into details. Their brutal
tactics are beyond barbaric. When the
peace deal was attempted with the Ugandan government in 2006, Joseph Kony was
driven out of Uganda. From there they
did not disband, and were not apprehended, instead they became basically mercenaries
around Central Eastern Africa, for the highest bidding warlord or government to
hire and wreak havoc on innocent people.
The LRA needs to be stopped.
I agree with Invisible Children that capturing Joseph Kony and his
commanders in very important. Yet, the
justice system in Uganda is terrible.
Recently, a high level commander of the LRA was apprehended by the International
Criminal Court in Gulu, and was later released (New Vision story here: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/19053-court-orders-ex-lra-commander-s-release.html). What would actually happen if Kony and his
gang were captured?
If only true justice could be served.
So, what do I think about the current craze surrounding Joseph
Kony (Kony 2012) and the LRA which is prompted by Invisible Children.
I totally agree with Michael Wilkerson in his article in Foreign Policy’s Blog; Passport. My writing here will reflect my personal
thoughts, but I totally agree with Wilkerson and if you want a brief, clear
article… read his.
But for those of you whom have requested my thoughts and take on
the whole thing… here we go:
First, I think Invisible Children has one of the most amazing
writing and production staffs around. The
people who do the writing and media for Invisible Children are very convincing
with words, images and ideas. They are
able to paint a picture which is beautiful, and inspire confidence in what they
are doing in those who read, watch and listen.
This is an incredible ability; I wish I had more of it.
The problem is that Invisible Children are not 100% truthful, and
use fairly misleading facts. Wilkerson
outlines this point, but there is one specific place in the video I want to
point this out…
(From
the Video Transcript
http://dotsub.com/view/ef3d7b6c-eab5-478a-a51c-d27166d27dcc/viewTranscript/eng):
03:41 → 03:43
Who are you to end a war?
03:43 → 03:46
I'm here to tell you, who are you not to?
I hate to break it to you, readers, but there is actually no “war”
going on against Kony, let alone a war going on in Uganda… it ended officially ended in 2006. As I wrote earlier, since that time Kony and
his gang have been basically extreme guns for hire throughout Central
Africa. They are out there trying to survive in the jungles of Central Africa, a roving band of killers. Terrible, I know.
Invisible Children
information (financial report 2011) says that since 2008, over 3,000 children have been abducted… but
it doesn’t say by whom. Also, I searched
their citation on the Enough Project website, and could not find the cited
information. Opps. (Note:
The information at the Enough Project website seems to be well done,
very professional, but much more cited, documented and connected to the bigger
picture than Invisible Children. Seems
that Invisible Children aren’t the only people who have been working hard for
this… http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Ending%20the%20Lord%27s%20Resistance%20Army.pdf)
According to the Enough Project, the LRA currently numbers roughly
500 armed combatants.
Also, not to break your heart, but honestly how can you, from your
computer, help with this situation. With
the split of Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo is now the largest country
in Africa. There are very few roads throughout
the entire Eastern side of the country, it is sold jungle (just look at google
maps). Central African Republic, DRCs
northern neighbor, is an unsung failed state.
It doesn’t get press like Somalia, but it’s basically ungoverned… a bit
of a mess (some history here …http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4007.htm)
Perhaps if
we all look hard enough at google satellite pictures someone can spot an LRA
camp (sorry for the sarcasm). How is this campaign really, honestly going to catch Kony?
Action Kits? Really? Have we reduced violence, war crimes, and
terror to a fashion statement? Give your
30 dollars to a local soup kitchen, most people will benefit from it… that I
can guarantee.
Now, how is your facebook post and donation of 30 dollars going to
catch Kony? Invisible Children would
scare you into thinking that somehow the USA is going to stop helping with the
issue… when in the video it’s said…
21:58 → 22:01
But in order for
the American advisors to be there,
22:01 → 22:04
the US government
has to deploy them.
22:04 → 22:08
They've done that, but if the government
doesn't believe the people care
22:08 → 22:12
about arresting Kony, the mission will be
canceled. ßThis
is a lie.
A read of the US
Department of State’s official document on the US position on Kony and the LRA
does not say anything about a pull out date, and in fact reinforces the idea
that there is a sustained commitment to “also continue(s) to provide assistance
to support the return of displaced people, reconstruction, and recovery in
northern Uganda”. Though this might sound strange, if you read
through the document, you can see that there are a lot of big, international
players in this… the UN, 5 or more governments…. The US government is not going
to stop this incentive if you don’t post the video and donate to Invisible
Children.
US Department of
State statement: http://www.state.gov/p/af/rls/fs/2012/183487.htm
I think that the Kony 2012 video is misleading, and a great way for Invisible Children to get a lot of press, and money...I don't think the people at Invisible Children are bad people. They are probably incredibly passionate, and really want to do some good.
We just really need to ask, what good is Kony 2012 actually doing?
My next post will be about Invisible Children, and money. Wait for it....
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