It has been all over Facebook for the past day.
What are your thoughts? Is it a bandwagon worth jumping aboard? How are we (as Christians) supposed to interact with movements like this? Specifically, those of us who profess to be "pacifist" and see nonviolence as a large portion of the Christian call. What are your thoughts on supporting military missions such as this?
Personally, I continue to be torn. Invisible Children is an organization I have supported in the past. I think their goals are noble and worth supporting, but the means they sometimes use to reach their goals I question. So I pose the question (feel free to challenge the binary I set up): what is worse? To use means I do not fully support to accomplish a good goal OR to sit and do nothing (because I am currently not doing anything or coming up with any "third way" options).
I encourage you to watch the video, if you have not done so already. As for me, I am going to write a few e-mails tonight, and pray that they do a little bit of good.
I think awareness is a good place to start. I think that using social media to get people involved is smart.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this video suggests that the issue is the unawareness of the American people and that the solution is American government intervention. The people of Uganda and Africa are aware of what Kony is doing. I think it is important to first find out what Uganda is already doing to stop Kony and then to offer to come alongside by providing funds, resources or people power according to Uganda's needs.
Instead of asking is what is worse, to join the movement or not to join the movement I think it is important to contemplate what will cause the least harm. For example, Is it more harmful or helpful to buy bracelets and plaster cities with posters? In the long run will and American intervention cause more harm than help? Is perpetuating the view that Africa is helpless harmful or helpful?
It is possible that the least harmful thing to do is to refrain from engaging in the movement as Invisible Children suggests. That said, I think educating ourselves on the history and current situation of Uganda is helpful. I think that putting the pressure on government leadership to become aware and to seek the least harmful ways to be involved is helpful.
I hadn't yet seen the video... the phrase KONY2012 I had only just seen a couple of times until after I watched the video in this post. It is now all over my facebook... but not because I put it there. What I have also seen all over facebook is concerns, questions and critiques like this one:
ReplyDeleteThe organization behind Kony 2012 — Invisible Children Inc. — is an extremely shady nonprofit that has been called ”misleading,” “naive,” and “dangerous” by a Yale political science professor, and has been accused by Foreign Affairs of “manipulat[ing] facts for strategic purposes.” They have also been criticized by the Better Business Bureau for refusing to provide information necessary to determine if IC meets the Bureau’s standards.
Additionally, IC has a low two-star rating in accountability from Charity Navigator because they won’t let their financials be independently audited. That’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s a very bad thing, and should make you immediately pause and reflect on where the money you’re sending them is going.
By IC’s own admission, only 31% of all the funds they receive go toward actually helping anyone [pdf]. The rest go to line the pockets of the three people in charge of the organization, to pay for their travel expenses (over $1 million in the last year alone) and to fund their filmmaking business (also over a million) — which is quite an effective way to make more money, as clearly illustrated by the fact that so many can’t seem to stop forwarding their well-engineered emotional blackmail to everyone they’ve ever known.
And as far as what they do with that money:
The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. Here’s a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and personnel of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them, arguing that the Ugandan army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries”, although Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission. These books each refer to the rape and sexual assault that are perennial issues with the UPDF, the military group Invisible Children is defending.
http://tumblr.thedailywh.at/post/18909727859/on-kony-2012-i-honestly-wanted-to-stay-as-far
So that successfully dampened my "rebel without a cause" initially enthusiastic response to geurilla meme war.
Something the video does highlight though is that the internet and facebook in particular are a game changer for how political momentum is created and applied... This is not necessarily good but it is very powerful and can be good. The wikipedia blackout also highlights this against sopa also highlights this... I am often willing to click my way through an automated email form in support or protest of something in order to flood a politician inbox on a particular subject... I do not however do as much research as would be appropriate most of the time and therefore leave myself open to manipulation... We of course come to somewhat of a stale mate: whose story is best? whose story is true? who do I trust? Why do I so easily believe that Invisible Children is not the best way to support justice and help africa? I think Danielle and Jordan Shaw hit the nail on the head when they note the American patriotism that runs through the whole thing... This is great politically for Obama...
I am also possibly jealous... Here is a group of friends who in the midst of a crisis, found a calling, a career, and are making an impact or at least becoming famous... I am struck by the transformational power of crisis and disaster on a persons life and the community building power of shared disaster...
All of these are good points to ponder, and I still have not come to any conclusions. I am trying to wrestle the cynic within me. Many times I would be the first to point out all the flaws in an organization or a plan, but I am trying to be more hopeful about this. I hope that social media can spread a good cause and awareness can actually lead to enough action that something will change.
ReplyDeleteThis has also been an exercise in information, misinformation, and the unreliable nature of the internet. The trends switched from all in favor, to all cynics, to an ongoing debate across the internet and throughout the media.
About misinformation, I think the benefit of the doubt needs to be given at points.
Here is Invisible Children's response to some of the criticism http://www.invisiblechildren.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/critiques.html
What struck me was the harsh criticism that originated because Invisible Children is still a small organization, a small board, and a small outfit with many faces. To wear all the hats is tough.
But maybe it all comes down to my desire to see the three guys succeed in their promises, and actually make a change.
Thanks for this post. Just a quick question - do you consider this blog a place for conversation among Christians? Or do you intentionally invite conversation about spiritual topics from people of various faiths?
ReplyDeleteDanica,
DeleteOur conversations our contextually Christian but not intended to be limited to either "inhouse" participants or topics albeit some topic may naturally limit appeal. I don't think we have been "intentional" about inviting conversation with people from from various faiths, but I think we would welcome comments or even guest posts from other perspectives. Some of my favourite comments have come from non Christians. At a practical level this is a place where Danielle, Silas and I continue to work out our Christian faith and have invited the intertubes to both listen and participate. Thanks for your comments.