And then, reality hit.
Please understand that I by no means am not supporting this campaign. I have been involved with Invisible Children since my senior year of high school, and will continue to be involved with IC as long as I find it to be an organization that is just. But there are many things that I wish people did before they pressed the "share" button.
Just as the power of unified voices brings me great joy, uninformed mob reaction actually brings me to tears. You see, I want us unified, and I want us strong, but I want us to support this campaign because we know what we're supporting. I want people to understand that it's not about Invisible Children, and believe it or not, it's not even wholly about Joseph Kony.
Invisible Children is currently under a lot of fire from political scientists and reviewers of non-profits right now. Political scientists say that they are creating this mob mentality that is once again giving rise to the belief in the White Man's Burden to save the world. There are also attacks on the organization itself because of how it is run financially, and where it lends its support.
Although I do agree that this heavy, all of a sudden explosion of "KONY 2012" is alarming, I also believe that spreading information is one of the easiest ways to begin a movement and start change. It is not that it is the white man's burden to stop the LRA and Joseph Kony, it is that this generation is realizing that it is the world's burden to stop injustice. That this comes off in a colonizing way, is unfortunate. However the message has been received that something bad is happening in Eastern Africa, and we need to stop it. As for the accusations claiming that IC is exaggerating or misusing information, I think that accusation is unfair. Although the same cannot be said for it's peacekeeping missions, the United Nations is a good source of information concerning statistics on various countries. This is where information is taken from. If you are in doubt of the numbers used by IC, check them against the reports of the UN.
As far as the places where funding goes, most of it, goes to media. Invisible Children started from a documentary, and from it's founding has been a firm believer that advocacy and information to the world, leads to furious action from the world. Not that we're colonizing Africa, but I think we will all agree that developed countries have more resources, and more strength and power behind military force. That having been said, IC does support the Ugandan national army. Many people are at odds with this because there have been reports of raping and looting from this army. I will not deny, that it brings me no joy to support an army that may cause tragedy as well as create peace. However, from a statistical standpoint, the UNA has not done anything that even closely resembles the atrocities committed by the LRA.
There is no way to say it that does not sound condescending, but the very truth is that, Eastern Africa is a severely corrupt place. And how can it not be? These countries have been in turmoil since they were chartered and have not seen political stability yet, for a period that lasted longer than one political era. If we, as a country with a stable government, have our own share of corruption, how then are things to run smoothly there? IC does not condone all of the actions of the UNA, however it's the best solution there is right now. Without the military support of the international community, who else is going to stop the LRA? Peace talks have not worked, soft power has not worked. Military power will.
On to Joseph Kony, people need to understand that bringing him down, does not solve the problem. In the event that Joseph Kony is captured or killed, the LRA will have someone to replace him. Someone born in this struggle, conditioned to continue abducting, displacing and killing. The eyes of his followers will not instantaneously see the horrors they've committed just because he is gone. The ultimate goal, is to disarm the LRA completely, set rehabilitation centers for the child soldiers, and create military stability in the affected countries so that they are prepared to disband any groups like these in the future.
Another thing people need to realize, is that we're not just going to waltz into the Democratic Republic of Congo or the Central African Republic and take Joseph Kony. There will be a struggle, and lives will be lost. Lives of children. Hence the term child soldiers.
In a perfect world, we would ambush and take Kony and the children would all want to be free. But this is an environment where the ones who survive are the ones who accept the doctrine and follow the order to shoot. And as terrible as it is, in the capturing of Kony, the lives of children will be lost. If you cannot accept that, then do not rally round the flag because the whole world is. I would rather there be fewer supporters, but supporters who are aware and educated on the risks and the practices of this movement, than to have a blind multitude who knows nothing about this cause outside of a thirty minute long documentary.
And the thing is, if we can be that generation that causes news streams and social media and politicians to focus in on one topic, we can also be the generation that does all of this out of an earnest desire, not an impulsive reaction to propaganda. Because as much as I love IC, I know that "KONY 2012" is propaganda. It is meant to move us in a blinded fashion. Let's not be blind. Let's be informed, and then, let's take action.
When I said it wasn't about IC or Kony, what I meant is that the bigger picture is that these countries need stability. Ending a war, sets a country into a time reconstruction. Our ultimate desire, and the goal that we should continue to work towards after Kony is captured or killed, is restoring order and creating governing infrastructures that do not condone corruption. We should fight for the rehabilitation of these children just as much as we're fighting to capture the man who leads them. We shouldn't be creating all of this fuss right now, about one man, only to die off once he is no longer a threat. And we shouldn't restrict ourselves to seeing justice only in Eastern Africa.
What about sex trafficking? What about Genocide? Child soldiers, slavery, displacement, massacres...these are not issues that are limited to the LRA, or even to just the continent of Africa. We live in a world that pretends to be good, because having a good display keeps things peaceful. And do we want peace? Yes. But I don't if it's at the price of injustice.
As an international affairs major, I am aware that there are some of you thinking "so you want my tax dollars to go all over the world in this recession, instead of helping me?"
I understand that we cannot be a country that saves the world. I have so far, called for military action to disarm the LRA, yes. And the government has already sent 100 troops. If they are successful in disarming the LRA, that is all the military involvement I need. Because from there on out, the Ugandan, DRC and CAR governments will have to strategize what to do. What do we do then? We provide help in the reconstruction process through non-profits, avoiding creating dependency. Aid should lead to stabilization and stabilization should lead to self-sufficiency. So you see, I'm not asking for a radical decision from the US government that spirals us even into more debt. I'm asking that you not be apathetic and that you not be half way into this cause. If you become informed and still do no agree, that is fine. But if you do become informed and desire change, don't just desire it.
Every year I run a 5k in Chattanooga titled Move for Uganda. All the funds from the race go towards a specific project: a hospital, a school, a radio system to warn when the LRA is moving towards villages, rehabilitation centers. At the race, there is a simulated village, and survivors there to give you a first hand account of events and atrocities. I go every year to receive new information, and to find out about more ways I can get involved and to motivate myself to keep going and advocating and fighting.
When you run a race, there is a goal and a finish line. To get there, you have to move.
If you're starting this race, finish it.
