The Witch Hunt of Kony 2012

I’m giving fair notice – the post today is less happy-go-lucky and more WTF??? Readers beware.

 

With all the hoopla about the Kony 2012 campaign, I’m stunned. If you haven’t watched the video – view it here. Take the 29 minutes and watch it. Then know that as much as this video went viral in two days, the haters came out in full form and started in on how Kony 2012 is a big scam.

 

What the hell is with you people? Criticism against the Kony 2012 campaign is a kin to a witch hunt. People are trying to create awareness and make the world a better place. They are there standing beside children who have been mutilated, parents who’ve had their children kidnapped to be slaves and soldiers. In the hopes of making change, they talk to children, who have by some miracle, escaped from life as a soldier and will be forever wounded. They are doing it in a way they feel will work most effectively . Or did you think this was a fun hobby or extra jovial way for them to spend the last few years?

 

Will they make a salary while creating awareness and fighting for the cause? Yes. Will a percentage of the fundraising go towards administrative costs, promotion costs, travel costs, etc. Yes. Shame on them for making money while fighting for this cause? I don’t think so.

 

Would you like to go and fight with them? Talk to the families and hold hands with children with half a face, tell them you’ll change their world? I know I couldn’t do it -I couldn’t bear it. Few of us could. But they are – they’re looking at the atrocity of this horrific problem face-on and doing something about it with the hope for change. Making it happen this year.

 

Are we all that naïve to think that when you donate to a charitable organization that the money all goes towards the cause itself? Come on people!  Do you work for wooden nickels in life? Why do you think these people – doing a job that would render many of us into a huddled mess in a corner for the next 5 years – would be working for free? How do you think they live and eat and do what they need to do in order to dedicate themselves to a worthwhile cause?

 

I guess for some of you, having a cut go to the educators or promoters feels wrong – but here’s the thing – before this social media frenzy, many people knew nothing of this tragedy, knew nothing about child armies – about what has become a way of life for them for upwards of 25 years.  Kony 2012 is like wildfire and is in everybody’s kitchen, office, chat room – and that is essential to change. Whether you agree with the package they wrapped it in or not, you can’t take from the fact that they have done what nobody has ever been able to do – open millions of eyes to the issue of child soldiers and the atrocity that these people are coping with alone. I say help – no matter how it comes – is overdue.

 

When people learn about something tragic, they want to help. They want to be part of the better good. They also need to know what exactly to do before they get distracted by everyday life here in cosy North America. The Kony 2012 team gave clear direction – this is what you do – 1-2-3.

 

Listen haters – your immediate criticism and rants of “scam” have not led people to other organizations to give their money to. No, you can’t any take credit for that – because it isn’t happening. But you can take credit for making people pause, put their head back in the sand, and justify why they can sit back and do nothing at all. You’ve effectively shocked people who may have reached out, to turn away and feel like they almost got “suckered” into caring. For that you should be ashamed.

 

Let people come to awareness and do what they can do. Let them feel good about it – in doing any little bit at all. If that means only sharing the link and spreading the word – so be it.  You don’t know where things go when they get passed on – and every little bit does make a difference.

 

Haters be gone.