Kony 2012

FYI: A white christian organization has no place signaling a call to arms for intervention in Uganda. Ever.

I can understand what you would say that

Not to mention the whole White Man Burden complex they've got going on that's absolutely disgusting.

That's disgusting.

Did you watch the Kony 2012 video at all? One man trying to teach his son that ONE MAN can make a difference. What he is trying to do is raise awareness on the atrocities and make Kony so well known that he can't hide any more.

Simply, a long socioeconomic and political conflict that has lasted 25+ years and engaged multiple states and actors has been reduced to a story of the good vs bad guy. And if a three-year-old can understand it, so can you. You don’t have to learn anything about the children, Uganda, or Africa. You just have to make calls, put up flyers, sings songs, and you will liberate a poor, forgotten, and invisible people.

This approach obviously denies realities on the ground, inflates fantasies abroad, and strips Ugandans of their agency, dignity and humanity- the complexity of their story and history. The work, consequence, and impact are all focused on Uganda, but the agency, accountability, and resources lie among young American students. Clearly a dangerous imbalance of power and influence; one that can have adverse lasting effects on how and what people know of Uganda. It reduces the story of Northern Uganda, and perhaps even all of Uganda, into the dreaded single narrative of need and war, followed by western resolve and rescue.