Clearly, I'm a gal of finicky proportions. While my hiatus (see below) has been necessary and unfortunately will remain in effect until May greets us all with its sunny disposition, I felt compelled to contribute, formally, to the discussion that's blowing up my social media outlets: Stop Kony 2012.
Many of friends and family members posted this video produced by the non-profit Invisible Children to bring awareness to Joseph Kony, the warlord in charge of the L.R.A. group in Uganda. Over my lunch break yesterday, I took the time to watch the 30 minute film. Within moments of finishing it, I joined the masses of newly socially mobilized people and jumped on the bandwagon by posting the video and spreading the word. The campaign strategy is incredibly impressive -- I certainly haven't seen anything like it. Not gonna lie, I also looked into buying the kit, the tee-shirt, the bracelet -- shoot, I was ready to jump on a plane and take matters into my own hand. It felt good, for a minute: it felt good to think I was a part of something; that people, young and old, felt inspired to do something; that for once, social media and tools could be used for something positive... that maybe, just maybe, this could work.
And before I knew it, was back to reading articles and reports about issues and problems right here in our own backyards. The ones we know about -- just don't want to talk about. The ones that don't get kits or tee-shirts or film crews. Still, I clung to hope that maybe this #stopkony and #kony2012 strategy was the start of something great.
I also began to see the inevitable criticism popping up in response to the hype. At first, I wrote them off as the devil's advocates, the heartless hipsters, the "I'm-smarter-than-you-to-get-caught-up-in-this-nonsense" jerks who are always there to bust our chops. After following links to other sources of information, I suddenly realized how badly I needed the reality check. Here are a few that have been shared by my peers or I've stumbled on in further research:
- "Kony 2012: What's the Real Story?" from The Guardian.
- Blog post on The Daily What.
- A new Tumblr created to highlight the flaws: Visible Children.
- Post on a WordPress blog that highlights not only the criticisms of this movement, but many other issues surrounding international aid.
For or against the issue at hand, the leverage is necessary.
Awareness is only as good as action that follows, whether monetary donations, research, or direct service.
After taking a step back and reading further, I was a little distraught. Folks who often post negative or whiney or self-involved posts suddenly had taken an interest in a world crisis that, in essence, has been going on for 20 years. Folks, too, whom I've had conversations with that use slurs or stereotypes to make weird points; who use terms like "us" and "them" as if cultural, social-economic, or gender determines what rights and opportunities we're allowed to have. Folks who often want to "stay out of it" when topics or issues hit close to home. Folks who stand fearlessly on their soapboxes and berate society and its leaders for the world's problems, but do little more than verbalize, often crassly I might add, instead of getting on the ground and doing something about it.
Kony's a sick bastard and the terror and violence caused by his group is imaginable. I don't think we should stand idly by when any person or group of people is being oppressed or unable to live a safe, productive life.
- But why do stand idly by when 5,104 people were primary victims in cases of sexual assault (that's just in S.C., folks)?
- Why aren't we trending #stophunger when 48.8 million of our fellow Americans are living without decent access to safe, healthy foods? (2010 figures found here)
- How is it that the rate of HIV/AIDs is growing but no one wants to make people aware about that... here's a special tid-bit: our very own Columbia, SC, ranks #12 in the nation for the number of reported cases. Want more? See the piece featured in the latest G&B publication.
- Why is no one contacting Oprah or George Clooney or Bono about the kids right down the street* are being sexually or physically abused - who, sometimes, become part of our own domestic "war zones" by becoming susceptible to violence and cycles of abuse? *for those that think it's just a low socieo-economic status problem, you're dead wrong.
.... why do we think these problems are exclusive to Africa?
.... does stopping one man bring justice to everyone affected by these atrocities?
So, my biggest gripe is the "awareness" - how it's easy to be "aware" when it's easy to be "involved" (or cool to be, for that matter). That, suddenly, you're a better person for posting a video link and can pat yourself on the back as you carry on about your day.
I'm embarrassed at myself.
But there is a silver lining.
People are talking about it.
SHOOT, it got me to come back after a dramatically announced hiatus. (*Never mind I was tortured by the sobs of my blog as she thought I abandoned her and was itching to write something other than for papers and projects.)
Frankly? If this does work... and in a weird way, I really hope it does... this just might revolutionize the way we engage in the world, the way we do bring awareness and solutions to issues, and the way we can get people off their butts and into the global community to start tackling some of these things.
And really, people,
I think there's an even greater threat to society we all need to be aware of:
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| Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/07/snooki-pregnant-baby-rumors-engaged_n_1326208.html |
That's right. The spawn of Snooki is also coming in 2012.
AND she's getting hitched and makin' babies before me.
Good grief.
So as I slither back into my cave of graduate despair and await the coming May, I just know I'm always supportive of useful, creative, and empowering forces in the name of social justice, both in our local and global communities. Even more-so, I hope everyone takes the time to understand, to ask necessary questions, to research, and above all... get out there and get your hands dirty. Facebook and YouTube and Twitter are excellent and powerful starting points. But the finale awaits us in the living, breathing communities where there's no computer or phone screen separating us anymore. (And I hear there's cake.)
All that said: I'm really REALLY interested to see how this turns out.
Maybe by giving people a chance to see the change as it happens, they'll be compelled to continue it.
Let's kick it.
Hugs and high fives,
Celia
