What happens after KONY 2012?
Who hasn’t seen the KONY 2012 video that’s circulating this week?
Really? May I schedule a writer’s retreat under your rock? It sounds like a blissful place…but i digress….
As with any activist cause that gains visibility quickly, there have been critics.
No one denys that Kony is a rotten guy who has done countless rotten things. The controversy surrounds who can and should be taking action to improve the situation in Central Africa, and what actions(s) are needed.
The strongest critics contend that Kony’s influence has waned dramatically in recent years, and the issues facing Central Africa demand a far more complex solution than simply capture and justice for one horrible leader. Further, some believe that solutions should originate from within the African community.
Some critics assert that individuals who donate to KONY 2012 might not fully grasp that the majority of their financial support is destined towards filmmaking, further fundraising, and awareness costs rather than on-the-ground programs to capture Kony or to help his victims. (To be honest, I thought the video was pretty clear that their #1 goal was to raise awareness…which it is doing brilliantly.)
All these questions are important. All of these questions deserve a deeper look.
Any decision to lend support to any charity should include an evaluation of the organization, its ultimate goals, its strategy to achieve them, and its financial practices. That’s just good stewardship.
But as I’ve followed the discussion over the past few days, the question keeps nagging me…
Then what?
One image in the film haunts me. Three seconds. A lone teenager in a yellow t-shirt walks toward a couple, the man’s arms outstretched to receive his son. The voiceover says “This is the dream…the abducted children returned home.”
Then what?
The KONY2012 website states that part of their mission is to “restore LRA-affected communities in Central Africa to peace and prosperity.”
How?
I do not know enough about Invisible Children or even about the overall situation in Central Africa to begin to know the right answer to that question.
But I do know for sure that anyone who has been captured and tortured and raped and forced to commit atrocities can’t just be “returned home” and everything will just be rainbows and unicorns.
Jacob, the young man shown in the film, clearly has learned to hope. He clearly has learned to trust a community of people who are putting action into their promises. That’s a great thing.
That’s something that the survivors of Kony’s “army” will need to learn…and it will be a very slow lesson.
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- How do you decide whether or not to support a charity or cause?
- How do you make decisions about how/where to give?
- How do you decide where your focus should be?
On a side note, one of my blogger friends is traveling to Uganda later this month with Compassion International. His stance: “Stopping Kony is not enough.” Check out his thoughts on the issue here.
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
Great thoughts, Christine. I think one of the side benefits to KONY 2012 is that this sort of question is out in the open: what really helps, and what is the best way to go about helping? Before the days of social networking, those questions may not have been asked on such a large stage. It would be, “Wow, we’ve got to support that” without any further thinking or action. I know that in many ways, what hasn’t changed is that KONY 2012 will be forgotten sooner rather than later.
Two additional thoughts: 1) Invisible Children is pretty clear, as you’ve said, that their primary mission is to get the message out. They saw an issue (rather, atrocities) ten years ago, realized next to no one knew about it, and have not rested in getting the word out. 2) The filmmakers are doing something. I tend to be critical, hopefully not in a judgmental way (certainly that’s in my heart), but because I analyze things to death. But at the end of the day, for better or for worse, they’ve done something. Though I still have some reservations, that’s one thing God’s used in this to speak to me in this.
BTW, I sent you a DM on Twitter a few days ago. I’m not sure if you check those very much, but you’ve got a message waiting for you there.
Thanks Benjer! Your post on Wednesday started me thinking more critically about the issue. I should have linked to you too! Everyone…here, now: http://www.benjermcveigh.com/2012/03/kony-2012-invisible-childrens.html
As for the DM…I responded! At least I thought I did…I’ll hit you again, but the short answer is absolutely! (sorry, troops, you’ll just have to wait to see the surprise we’ll be cooking up!)
Great post. I think there are many questions to be asked, but at the end of the day, Invisible Children is DOING something. Critics always come out when people stop being complacent. We sponsor a child in Uganda through Compassion, so I loved Stephen’s post. Good thoughts!
I agree Tammy…taking action and increasing awareness is critically important. I really hope both the video and the resulting conversation inspire people to take action, whether it’s helping in Central Africa or in another area of need.
I really value giving back globally as well as locally, so it is crucial that you find an organization that you can trust and can work with. There is always going to be backlash, but focus on the positive and do good works!
Good point about global AND local connections…it doesn’t have to be (and shouldn’t be) an either-or proposition!
When Joseph Kony is recognized as one of the most malicious murderers, I like the idea of making him famous. I am not sure what is next. What I do know is that there is no “next” if he isn’t stopped. Which “next” is more dangerous… the one if we leave him be and see which child is next, or the one if we stop him and then try to take next steps towards reconciliation and/or healing? Great thoughts!
I don’t disagree at all, Ryan…it just can’t stop at “famous.” this needs to be a springboard to healing.
For the record, I don’t think IC intends for it to stop at famous. I think they’re doing a good job of being laser-focused on Step 1. I also know that we (Americans) are a very very very fickle culture. If Kony isn’t captured by the next news cycle, people who only connected by a click will get cynical or just forget…and that *could* do more harm than good.
After I wrote this post, I saw another interesting article (linked in Benjer’s site above) from a family that lived in Uganda for 17 years and now lives in Kenya. One of the points the author made was that the African cultures actually do healing and forgiveness a lot better than we do in American culture. That not only gives me a lot of hope, but also makes me interested to learn more…