Kony 2012

[prisonermonkeys]

Did you not watch the video? The objective of KONY 2012 is to keep Joseph Kony alive and well in the public consciousness by using a viral marketing campaign to turn him into a celebrity. Jason Russell clearly states that the only way this will work is if the campaign exists in perpetuity.KONY 2012 isn't going to be one big push in April and then forgotten - they need to constantly keep the public aware of the issue.

Yes, it's a travesty that Kony has been allowed to continue with his rampage for the better part of three decades. Something probably should have been done sooner. But just because something is only being done now, that doesn't make it any less noble than its intentions. The entire point of the KONY 2012 campaign is to harness the power of social media and viral marketing - tools that weren't available a decade ago - to bring Kony to justice.

Your cynicism, however, is noted. But you should know that the ability to detect when someone is lying to you is laudable, the ability to assume everyone is lying to you as a matter of course is just patronising. Your assumption that you are the only person capable of "detecting" these so-called lies is just plain insulting.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Did you not watch the video? The objective of KONY 2012 is to keep Joseph Kony alive and well in the public consciousness by using a viral marketing campaign to turn him into a celebrity. Jason Russell clearly states that the only way this will work is if the campaign exists in perpetuity.KONY 2012 isn't going to be one big push in April and then forgotten - they need to constantly keep the public aware of the issue.

Yes, it's a travesty that Kony has been allowed to continue with his rampage for the better part of three decades. Something probably should have been done sooner. But just because something is only being done now, that doesn't make it any less noble than its intentions. The entire point of the KONY 2012 campaign is to harness the power of social media and viral marketing - tools that weren't available a decade ago - to bring Kony to justice.

Your cynicism, however, is noted. But you should know that the ability to detect when someone is lying to you is laudable, the ability to assume everyone is lying to you as a matter of course is just patronising. Your assumption that you are the only person capable of "detecting" these so-called lies is just plain insulting.

Who is claiming that? If your insulted then that seems like a personal issue, oh well. To be honest I have a list a couple yards long of people who do this and if you asked them where Uganda was on a map they couldn't be bothered. There are plenty of people that have known about this and those are the people that I rather talk to because they do their homework. Rather than those who pass this along like some chain letter, it's great that awareness is being spread, it's quite ignorant when you don't really know why.

So step off the moral high horse as if your the voice for the masses. I have my reasons for why I'm a cynic.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I have my reasons for why I'm a cynic.

There are no good reasons for being a cynic.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

There are no good reasons for being a cynic.

That's subjective and people of intellect can easily leave it at that.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I find the attitude of the cynics towards this to be utterly hilarious. They are very quick to point out that nothing has been done for twenty-five years, but when presented with an opportunity to do something about it (and thereby addressing their own issues with the inactivity), they claim that the project will never work. And if, twenty-five years from now, Joseph Kony is still killing and mutilating and raping his way across central Africa, those same cynics will still claim that it is a travesty of human history that nothing was done - even though they themselves were in a position to help out (which they will, of course, ignore).

Your ability to assume the worst in everyone does not help the situation. You only make it worse. Say you do donate to the cause - what's the worst that could happen? Nothing ever comes of it, and you lose a few dollars. Or the campaign fails, and Kony is never caught. How is that any worse than what Kony's victims have to live with? In the meantime, you're decrying the people who are actually trying to do something, ignoring the victims, and offering no alternative solutions to the problem. And all the while claiming that you're somehow enlightened by your cynicism. How about you put your pride on the shelf and think about what you're actually saying?

 

[uMadson?]

See, you two were missing the point.

Of course, attention will eventually die down. But the thing is, we all should work hard to keep it up. Make new posts on the matter, create more videos and whatnot...

I wonder what went into you guys. Look at him. About 30 years he has done those and yet you simply dismiss it?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I wonder what went into you guys. Look at him. About 30 years he has done those and yet you simply dismiss it?

It's because they're proud of their ability to automatically assume the worst in people. Actually contributing to the campaign would force them to admit that maybe people are capable of doing something decent every once in a while.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Who says cynics have done nothing about it? That's a nice leap you make I mean if you want to talk humor, there you have it. Did I claim the project would never work? Please do point out where I say that word for word I'm really interested now. Posting a video on here and everywhere else isn't going to solve the problem, I've shown people items like this already just like I do during Presidential election years so we don't get the same ol' same ol'.

Also in this case, to be honest I'd call it less cynicism and more being a realist. The truth is people will send the video, but stop there. It's probable that they'll claim they put forth the effort. What one must hope for is that the 100 U.S. SOCCOM will take care of this as sent to do so back in October. Calling my legislature or writing a letter is putting in a bit of an effort, I'm not saying I don't agree with it and on the contrary why would I it goes against my ethics. Simple point is people are either interested or not, your optimism is great and all but the harsh reality is many people can't be bothered after they make the payment.

See, you two were missing the point.

Of course, attention will eventually die down. But the thing is, we all should work hard to keep it up. Make new posts on the matter, create more videos and whatnot...

I wonder what went into you guys. Look at him. About 30 years he has done those and yet you simply dismiss it?

Where do I dismiss it at? Once again as I told PM please show me where I do that. Quote me saying how we should just let this go on. The point is it's not enough for people to just give a dollar here or there and walk on down the road. That's not enough and will never be enough, if my nation informed themselves as much as other nations seem to or have to due to similar circumstances or human rights issue this wouldn't barely come to the full spectrum.

It's because they're proud of their ability to automatically assume the worst in people.

Like you just did? It's funny you say attack the post now the person posting, double standard?

I'm not assuming anything, I've seen it first hand growing up and what not. Now I don't know how it is for you two in your respected nations but I can tell you it's quite different. Human rights violations come a far second or third to gossip topics and reality tv headlines

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Posting a video on here and everywhere else isn't going to solve the problem

Of course the video isn't going to solve the problem. Nowhere did Russell claim that it was going to solve the problem. The video is just the first step of the campaign, not the campaign itself. The video is designed to raise awareness of Kony and his atrocities, and the campaign to bring him to justice. The actual campaign is to appeal to a selected group of influential people - celebrities and lawmakers - and get the public talking about Kony. The whole idea is to make him famous, turn him into a household name. And when people know who he is and what he is doing, the campaign is designed to turn the tide against him. The American government will introduce laws allowing them to get more involved in the pursuit. The Ugandan military will receive the funding they need to keep chasing him. The ultimate objective is to see Kony arrested by the end of the year, deported to the Hague and set before the International Criminal Court to face trial. The video itself doesn't take Kony out of Africa and set him down in front of the ICC - the video is trying to capture public attention and use the power of social media to get people invested in taking Kony down.

Like you just did? It's funny you say attack the post now the person posting, double standard?

I'm not assuming the worst in you. I'm reading your comments about how you're a cynic, and using them as evidence that you're assuming the worst in people because that's what cynicism is:

Cynicism is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of other's apparent motives, or a general lack of faith or hope in the human race. It is a form of jaded negativity.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Of course the video isn't going to solve the problem. Nowhere did Russell claim that it was going to solve the problem. The video is just the first step of the campaign, not the campaign itself. The video is designed to raise awareness of Kony and his atrocities, and the campaign to bring him to justice. The actual campaign is to appeal to a selected group of influential people - celebrities and lawmakers - and get the public talking about Kony. The whole idea is to make him famous, turn him into a household name. And when people know who he is and what he is doing, the campaign is designed to turn the tide against him. The American government will introduce laws allowing them to get more involved in the pursuit. The Ugandan military will receive the funding they need to keep chasing him. The ultimate objective is to see Kony arrested by the end of the year, deported to the Hague and set before the International Criminal Court to face trial. The video itself doesn't take Kony out of Africa and set him down in front of the ICC - the video is trying to capture public attention and use the power of social media to get people invested in taking Kony down.

The U.S. gov't is already running missions against the guy as well as helping Uganda forces. Did you not see that the first two times I said it. Obama has been doing something about it since 2010, which is at least one thing I can applaud him for, along with other U.S. legislatures. When I look at Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Rwanda and others I'm reminded of what could have been done but wasn't and still isn't. Obama already signed legislations back in 2010. I already know what the video is trying to do, you don't have to keep telling me I see it as a moot point somewhat.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The US went into Uganda in 2011, not 2010. The video explains why - the US will not get involved in any foreign conflict that does not pose a threat to national security, or which is of no economic benefit to them. Nor are they conducting "missions"; they sent 100 advisors to help train the Ugandans. The reason why they went is because Invisible Children (the group that made the KONY 2012 campaign) lobbied for it. And Invisible Children made the KONY 2012 video because they want the US to maintain a presence there. With every passing day that Joseph Kony is not caught, it becomes harder to justify maintaining a presence in Uganda, because it is expensive and those 100 advisors could probably be put to use somewhere else. KONY 2012 aims to change that by making Kony relevant to the American public. If Kony is relevant, if the people want him brought to justice, then the US will stay in Uganda. But the public needs to maintain an interest in catching Kony.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

The US went into Uganda in 2011, not 2010. The video explains why - the US will not get involved in any foreign conflict that does not pose a threat to national security, or which is of no economic benefit to them. Nor are they conducting "missions"; they sent 100 advisors to help train the Ugandans. The reason why they went is because Invisible Children (the group that made the KONY 2012 campaign) lobbied for it. And Invisible Children made the KONY 2012 video because they want the US to maintain a presence there. With every passing day that Joseph Kony is not caught, it becomes harder to justify maintaining a presence in Uganda, because it is expensive and those 100 advisors could probably be put to use somewhere else. KONY 2012 aims to change that by making Kony relevant to the American public. If Kony is relevant, if the people want him brought to justice, then the US will stay in Uganda. But the public needs to maintain an interest in catching Kony.

Did I say we went in 2010 no, I did say however that legislation by the U.S. government was passed, this was The Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. I also show that I said 2011 troops were sent to Uganda, all you showed was a bit of misreading. Also I guess you never read the wikileaks that talkes exclussively about this little issue and how classified documents show that Sudan played a big part in helping keep Kony out of harm. You know the same Sudan that did equal atrocities for about a two decade or more period. The same Sudan that has ties to China and a reason why the U.S. never took major strides against them.

Yet you're so well traversed in politics, I guess you knew all that. We've been at this game for awhile (America that is) they were in contact about this back in 07 and further back even as the documents show. This isn't news to them or the rest of the first world international community. It shouldn't be news to average people if they ventured to other news outlets than the ones readily given. The point is if one is to release a video every two to three decades on a sick militant loon, then nothing is really being accomplished a lot happens in that time span.

 

[BobK]

So if this really disturbs you (generic "you" here, nobody in particular) then grab a gun, find some like-minded folks, and go try to do something about it. Or pony up the bucks to help bankroll someone else who will.

Vandalism isn't the answer.

 

[Juiposa]

I find the attitude of the cynics towards this to be utterly hilarious. They are very quick to point out that nothing has been done for twenty-five years, but when presented with an opportunity to do something about it (and thereby addressing their own issues with the inactivity), they claim that the project will never work. And if, twenty-five years from now, Joseph Kony is still killing and mutilating and raping his way across central Africa, those same cynics will still claim that it is a travesty of human history that nothing was done - even though they themselves were in a position to help out (which they will, of course, ignore).

Your ability to assume the worst in everyone does not help the situation. You only make it worse. Say you do donate to the cause - what's the worst that could happen? Nothing ever comes of it, and you lose a few dollars. Or the campaign fails, and Kony is never caught. How is that any worse than what Kony's victims have to live with? In the meantime, you're decrying the people who are actually trying to do something, ignoring the victims, and offering no alternative solutions to the problem. And all the while claiming that you're somehow enlightened by your cynicism. How about you put your pride on the shelf and think about what you're actually saying?

Kudos to you man, my thoughts exactly. Thank you for expressing this when I can't write in this sort of detail.

To others, when I posted the thread in the rumble strip I neglected to check any where else. So I'am not trying to flood the forum, just an honest mistake.

For the many of you who are being negative you fail to see that you are help. How many of you honestly knew who Kony is? If you did then kudos. The more you post, the more people come. And you know when a thread has more posts more people come to it. So you are indeed helping in accomplishing the goal of the campaign, whether you support it or not.

 

[ETID]

Kony2012!

 

[Dennisch]

/Who cares about Africa anymore.

 

[HACKr]

http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/

Is awareness good? Yes. But these problems are highly complex, not one-dimensional and, frankly, aren’t of the nature that can be solved by postering, film-making and changing your Facebook profile picture, as hard as that is to swallow. Giving your money and public support to Invisible Children so they can spend it on supporting ill-advised violent intervention and movie #12 isn’t helping. Do I have a better answer? No, I don’t, but that doesn’t mean that you should support KONY 2012 just because it’s something. Something isn’t always better than nothing. Sometimes it’s worse.

Invisible Children:

 

[slims]

Can anybody tell me what the plan is? All I can gather from their website is:
1) Give Invisible Children Inc. your money.
2) Something happens in the middle here.
3) Kony is arrested.

How do they even plan on going about this? That page literally has ZERO information aside from the video, a store and a donate button. Their actual website isn't much better with the details. http://www.invisiblechildren.com/protectionplan From what I can see they've done good things for the region and I am all for raising awareness on issues around the world but as far as I can tell their main goal now is to get more young sheeple to part with their money and capturing Kony. Does anyone else see anything wrong with supporting a charity that is basically calling for direct military intervention and arming a resistance force to arrest a man who will undoubtedly not go down without a fight and bloodshed?

 

[Northstar]

aside from the video

Did you watch said video?

 

[jcm]

I thought the video made everything pretty clear.

 

[slims]

Ah yes the plan of bracelets and posters and stickers (Oh, my!) and spamming celebrities and "policy makers" all while giving Invisible Children Inc. as much money as you can. Seems solid. Joseph Kony is definitely going down.

 

[Northstar]

Ah yes the plan of bracelets and posters and stickers (Oh, my!) and spamming celebrities and "policy makers" all while giving Invisible Children Inc. as much money as you can. Seems solid. Joseph Kony is definitely going down.

So you watched it, but didn't bother paying attention to the part where he said the plan was to spread awareness so the pressure will continue on congress to keep helping them catch Kony?

Seriously, it's fine if you don't support this, but at least don't be blind when debating it.

 

[DK]

I actually feel like a hipster for knowing about the Lord's Resistance Army before this Kony 2012 stuff started.

 

[Dennisch]

I actually don't feel a thing about this. And I didn't watch the video. And I didn't know the LRA, or Kony.

 

[slims]

Seriously, it's fine if you don't support this, but at least don't be blind when debating it.

Blind is hopping on the bandwagon and quickly supporting a cause you hardly know anything about based on a sob story documentary which was made with this reactionary emotive response in mind.

Like I said, I'm all for awareness but crowdsourcing to get political support for military intervention doesn't seem like the best way to tackle a complex issue such as this.

 

[gorsad]

Invisible Children also fully support the Uganda Military, who are themselves are accused of raping and looting. The KONY 2012 act isn't at all bad, by spreading awareness, political figures may notice and act for the better. The more people who know about Joseph Kony and his acts the better. But remember, when you donate to KONY 2012, you're donating to the Uganda Military who may well be looting away. Invisible Children also have a 2/4 rating on Charity Navigator due to the far that most of their money goes to filming for various awareness movies.

http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/

Got all my info from there.

 

[Dennisch]

Invisible Children also fully support the Uganda Military, who are themselves are accused of Raping and Looting. The KONY 2012 act isn't at all bad, by spreading awareness, political figures may notice and act for the better. The more people who know about Joseph Kony and his acts the better. But remember, when you donate to KONY 2012, you're donating to the Uganda Military who may well be looting away.

People need to realise that Africa at this stage is a bottomless well.

 

[gorsad]

What do you mean by that

 

[Dennisch]

What do you mean by that

There isn't enough money in the world to help Africa out of it current state.
Corruption and such is just to widespread. Therefor it is useless to send money to charity. The raping and looting Uganda army is a fine example. They "help" one side of the population, but the other side needs to die, in their eyes.

Therefor, bottomless well.

 

[nk4e]

Africa entirely has been in Civil Wars for years. UN and America has helped Africa with its issues before. There are still radical forces that take food aid and let thousands starve to death.