Treading the murky waters of Kony 2012

Brittni Young

Brittni Young/Web Editor

OPINION

Kony 2012 is a viral video that has circulated its way through the web popping up on social media networks Facebook and Twitter. Kony 2012 is a film made by Co-founders Jason Russell and Laren Poole.

The film talks about the rebel war led by the Lords Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony. In the video they speak about the war crimes against humanity Kony has been indicted for, which include abduction, drugging and rapes of children, and using them as children soldiers and sex slaves.

The organization states in their video that their goal is to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. On their website www.invisiblechildren.com they state that they are taking action to ensure this by making Joseph Kony known as the world’s war criminal. They also want the U.S. military advisers to support the Ugandan army until Kony has been captured and the LRA has been completely disarmed.

On April 20, 2012 supporters of The Invisible Children will plaster the city with posters and Kony’s name across the nation. The Invisible Children, aiding the victims of the long terror of LRA, has made an excellent effort in helping to restore the country, but there is one thing people are confused about. This fact is that Uganda has been free of the LRA for over five years and the rebel army has been defeated, as reported by The Invisible Children themselves.

Listening to the pain in a victim of the LRA, Jacob’s voice as he told his story weighed heavy on my heart. Hearing of the abductions and actions of the LRA angered me of the unveiled horrors that have been brought to this country and all across the world. I believe no one should have to suffer the fear that these children experienced.

However, the Invisible Children were facing another issue themselves as they were being questioned for the content of their message. The Invisible Children are spreading the word of the LRA as if it is still an occurring issue, even though the LRA has been defeated. This fact The Invisible Children have recognized in their blog, but still they pressure the U.S. to become further involved in Uganda.

U.S. military advisers have been stationed in Uganda since October 2011 when Barack Obama approved to send the advisers there to train and advise the Uganda military in capturing Kony.

With a defeated rebel army the Uganda military still have not captured Kony with the assistance of the U.S. military. Two hundred war rebels remained in Uganda as reported in 2011 by NBC News. U.S. officials stated 100 military advisers were sent to Uganda. A dozen Green Berets, Army special forces, were in Uganda assisting the military while the remaining American trainers have been deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic and South Sudan.

At first I was on board with the Kony 2012 campaign, but after researching further I cannot choose a side. Both sides that are speaking for the campaign and against the campaign’s motive show several inconsistencies on the issue, making it difficult to a choose side. The issues surrounding the charity remain murky, but the more the media hovers over the issue maybe something will become clear.

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