I get all sorts of notices on Vimeo, and a little over a week ago, there was a notice about something called Kony 2012. I watched it, and I had questions and have asked them of the sources I have in Uganda, but I didn’t get a chance to come back to the internet about this until a few days ago. Thursday I came back to query and realized the video was on YouTube as of Monday and already had tens of millions of hits. As I’m typing this, the video has almost 66 million hits.
Since I want to hear what you think, I’m not going to tell you my thoughts so far, but this is what SO and I have been discussing for the last two days:
More info on it below, but I hope you watch the video first if you haven’t seen it and don’t know anything. I’m really curious about your reaction before you hear all the rhetoric.
Source in response to this Source.
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RAFrenzy 
Off the cuff: that video is too long! So the fact that it got viral is impressive or too many people had nothing to do. Besides everybody is ready for a new bracelet ;) If they do succeed in their mission that would only be the beginning for those children. I would like to hope this organization is looking ahead how to help those children integrate back if at all possible. And again slick as it is 20 or 15 min would have been better!
I’m withholding comment until a few more people weigh in. I hope they do.
Agreed about it being too long. Being that you’re waiting for comments, I’ll comment even though I don’t have a coherent thought.
Is this man bad/evil? I’m going to go with undoubtedly. The issue I have is that of sovereignty. Whatever countries he’s committed these crimes in need to be the ones who capture him and either try him or turn him over to the International Criminal Court. This is different from WWII in my opinion because he is not leading a country, it sounds more like guerrilla warfare/terrorism. I’m not sure of the governments in the countries where he’s done these crimes, but I know some of the countries in Africa aren’t the best at protecting their people. Are these countries that concerned? I’m guessing not if they haven’t made more of an effort to stop him.
Speaking out against him is great and more power to them for spreading the word about someone evil but unless the people there want to stop him, it’s not going to happen.
This is sad and my heart goes out to the children and their families and villages over the past 20-30 years. I’m sure the psychological and emotional trauma suffered at his hands is overwhelming. Until someone close to him grows a pair and takes matters into their own hands, I doubt anything will happen. Arresting is too good for him.
Ok, so there is my not fully formed comment.
The only thing I’ll say at this time is I’m reading their financials in detail. I’m not an accountant, but I’ve had to read a few financial statements in my life. So far from new stuff. ;P
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts F as I’m definitely the worst informed person but wondering this can’t be a coincidence they picked an election year!
Ok, so you’re more curious as to our thoughts re: the campaign not to the man and what should be done with him.
They’re somewhat tied together, but yeah. : D
Wondering if I’ll be plastering my neighborhoods walls?? :D no but would I wear the bracelet? Probably I thought it looked kinda cool … Okay maybe on second thought .. it’s a cleverly run campaign but it seems so targeted to a young audience that does not have elective power. This might affect voters registrations I think. It surely is raising an awareness of what happens outside the borders plenty more than in this video obviously. Again disclaimer: all just quick off the cuff observations.
NO problem with off the cuff, but I think something like this needs to set for a day or two. I’ll give my thoughts later after I finish sifting all of the sources and reading a little more of the political situation. I also know people who are in the thick of what’s going on in central Africa.
In the meantime, I’m typing my fanstra posts! (picture me cross-eyed)
Frenz, I do not know, either, what to think of the Kony campaign. From one perspective, I think it good. From other perspectives, I don’t altogether like it. Still thinking. In this country, we have the example of Romeo Dallaire, a seasoned senior soldier, who was so traumatised by the failures of NATO in Rwanda; who wrote about it “Shake Hands with the Devil” which became a film. Also Craig Kielburger, Who has been fighting against child labour since he was 12. From one perspective, this Kony video has a sense of exploitation: the father is (seems) to be inculcating his child from an early age, with his values. That’s not bad. That is what parents are for. But. When our son was first of voting age, he voted Conservative!! (Parents a bit left of centre.) :D Parents just smiled.. Of course, we are living in a North American country, and we have voting rights without intimidation and machetes are frowned upon. (Not being facetious – just that we have amazing freedom). We don’t know what it is, to live in such different circumstances. What bothered me was the indoctrinating his child. Am I off here? I have lived in, and traveled in other countries.
It appears that Kony should be stopped. Which raises another issue. The power of the media. The veracity of social media. What is verified? Before we embark on a witch-hunt. I just don’t know, at this point.
In the interest of not being a distraction from fanstra (for me mostly), I’m going to leave this until a week from Monday. If things really pop, then i may publish a piece in the middle of the event, but I’m going to try to hold off on that.
Hi Frenz,
From a film-making / editing standpoint, it is very, very well made. I watched it mostly from that standpoint. When I saw it was going to be 30 minutes, my first thought was, ‘geez, how are you going to hold my attention this long?’ He did it.
Another thing it has going for it is focus. It has one goal. I know there is much to consider later, but scope is always good to get locked down for any campaign. Perhaps he may ask, ‘what next?’ after Kony is found.
I can only comment from an execution standpoint and it does seem that the Kony campaign is organized, informed, and smartly planned.
I do agree that social media has changed the patterns of the world significantly. I feel sorry for traditional publishers, the film industry, the music industry, brick and mortar retailers, & the IRS, as each tries to capture its piece of the demand of the masses.
I’m not a very good representative consumer anymore, I make consumer benefit purchasing decisions between the US and the UK now and have long stopped watching US Network broadcast television. ;)
I suppose it is up to each person to ask whether he/she is compelled to take part actively. I can’t say I can commit as I could be in any one of 4 cities on April 19th/20th. But I do have to say “Bravo” to this team of committed campaigners. Well done.
From what little I have read (haven’t seen the video – it’s half a bleedin’ hour long!! A short, written summary would have sufficed … it was mentioned in the news enough last week), the organisation behind have dodgy finances – which is what I believe Frenz is hinting at – and someone else pointed out that they’re wanting you to donate money to support a regime that in itself is highly questionable morally (for instance their approach to gay people). Soooo it’s a bit like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, really bad person that needs to be stopped, and on the other … perhaps not the right people to do so who have brought it to light? *shrug*
Why I think that saving children and their victims from this horrible life as killers and their victims is an idea worth getting behind… In addition to the humanitarian aspect –
I think that this movement is a very good thing for our youth. I have so often heard from youth that young people have no power and that their futures are uncertain. When working with League of Woman Voters voter drive a typical youth response would be – why bother – all politicians are the same and we can’t change anything.
This is not a feeling that my generation embraced. We felt that if we banded together and used our optimism, our youth and energy we could change things and in part we did when we stopped a war.
As the film stated, the world is a much smaller place today and by banding together and bringing focus on these human rights violations to the fore, the world can change little by little. Throw out the apathy and bring in activity.
I would much rather help save generations of African youth than have a life focused on pop culture and consumerism. Do you have to donate money? No you don’t if you are wary of the organization – but email your elected representatives and the President so that the small US support will continue.
Am climbing off my soapbox.
Thanks, Frenzy, for sharing this film.