To add further to my last post, let me just clarify a few points about the campaign. It may be true that a large number of people have hopped onto the Kony bandwagon without investigating any deeper than the Kony 2012 video, but their superficiality is no worse than those who dismissed the video outright without investigating further themselves. The reason I find the objections of the unconverted to be particularly irritating is because they reflect the same armchair whimsy displayed by creationists when they say "evolution can't be true because then there wouldn't be any monkeys left." If said creationist were to venture as far as a textbook, they would find in abundance the answers to their critiques. In the case of Kony, people offer arguments such as "he's not even in Uganda any more", "he's not as strong as he used to be" and "liking videos won't make politicians act" as if the people at Invisible Children were unaware of these facts. Most of these arguments have been dealt with on their website, data has been published and further video and text documents outline what their funds actually achieve on the ground. This includes radio networks, early warning systems, information on how to defect from the LRA and also rehabilitation projects for the areas affected. All you have to do to find out what the claimants are actually claiming is to invest a little extra time in investigating the content behind their movement. Go to their website and see for yourself before you set up a strawman to debunk.
All that being said, it is good that people have their doubts and voice them. It forces the supporters to check their own stories against the facts. I feel that the facts lean towards the optimists in this unique case. Thanks to all of those "pointless likes", so many people saw the video that a large enough action base was established and change is already under way. I cannot begin to anticipate the outcome- it may not be a success. I suggest that those of us still doubting the cause should exercise the same humility and not proclaim with conceit that it will all be a certain waste of time and money. Awareness may yet inspire greater action. These early signs are looking promising.
All that being said, it is good that people have their doubts and voice them. It forces the supporters to check their own stories against the facts. I feel that the facts lean towards the optimists in this unique case. Thanks to all of those "pointless likes", so many people saw the video that a large enough action base was established and change is already under way. I cannot begin to anticipate the outcome- it may not be a success. I suggest that those of us still doubting the cause should exercise the same humility and not proclaim with conceit that it will all be a certain waste of time and money. Awareness may yet inspire greater action. These early signs are looking promising.
