30 seconds of fame

The issue of child soldiers is obviously quite important. However, what I find more intriguing is the response of Princeton students to this video. Many are becoming intellectually and socially engaged with the topic. Several have purchased KONY 2012 gear, as well as have pledged to “Cover The Night” in Princeton on April 20. Others criticize the video, referring to Invisible Children’s low charity ratings, as well as visiblechildren.tumblr.com time and time again, while also questioning the legitimacy of Invisible Children itself.

It’s true that the video is an oversimplification of the issue, it does not describe the initial reasons behind the creation of the LRA — to protest Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s killing of minority tribes in the north. American foreign policy has in the past supported this president. If Invisible Children’s long-term objective is to deter violence in central Africa, it is difficult to determine how the capturing of Joseph Kony, as the video suggests, would prevent the emergence of a similar leader. Further, the video’s focus on Uganda misleads its audience into believing that Uganda is still a war-torn country, while it has been relatively stable over the past five years.

I agree with those problems of the video — it is obviously an oversimplification that centers on Joseph Kony’s activities in Uganda, which occurred many years ago. However, the criticism by which I cannot abide stems not from the issue or campaign itself — but rather a criticism of our peers. One meme mocks, “Watch 30 minute video on Internet, become social activist.”

I don’t understand why people feel the need to have a monopoly on “social activism.” The goal of social activism is to spread knowledge of a certain issue and to get more people involved in the discourse of the issue. People who rapidly switch their profile pictures or order KONY 2012 gear are not professing to be experts on Uganda or the LRA or Invisible Children. You’re right — they might even be doing it just because their friend did it a few seconds before. However, after watching the KONY 2012 video, they do know something more at the very least. Perhaps a small percentage of those people will go on to become more involved in the combat against creating child soldiers, or other social issues. The important result of the KONY video is that people are becoming involved in the discussion of central African issues.

One of the most poignant criticisms I have heard concerning the KONY video, however, is its overall perspective and attitude. People criticize the name “Invisible Children” as condescending and exemplifying a “White Man’s Burden” approach to African issues. It’s a sad truth that, in order to get many people interested in issues which have arguably little direct relation to American policy, NGOs and others must tap the “guilt reflex.” True, these children were never invisible — their problems existed before and after we discovered them. However, the organization and its message reach an audience that wouldn’t otherwise care about the issue. Once they have some attachment to it, they can hopefully learn more about the subject and actively participate in the conversation concerning central African issues. Further, if the American public becomes more educated, hopefully our government’s actions, as well as that of the international community, will do the same. Instead of just capturing Joseph Kony, the international community and regional partners can help develop the region and solve the roots of the problem.

The second primary argument against the KONY 2012 campaign is that it questions the issue’s relevance and importance. Many people would rather have Facebook members be concerned about nuclear weapons in Iran or the state of public school systems in America. These are all very important issues, no doubt. But if one video can make people interested in a cause, then there is no reason to try to deter that effect.

Further, it is a fact that Joseph Kony is at the top of the International Criminal Court’s Most Wanted List. He still is operating in the Central African Republic and other nearby nations. As party members to the Rome Statute, as well as a G-5 nation, the United States does have a duty to pursue international interests, like bringing to justice the most wanted man, according to the International Criminal Court. The United States relies on many international institutions to justify its foreign policy — so this is relevant to our national security. Whether you believe in the effectiveness of international institutions or not, it is the system we have. Letting Joseph Kony or any other international war criminal live with impunity is not acceptable by moral or practical standards — it means the international justice system has failed.

Keeping this in mind, the KONY video going viral will ultimately do some good. Most of the criticisms of the video and campaign are legitimate, but at least it will impel viewers to reflect on their own perception of African issues, and their role in the future of U. S. relations with central Africa.