Parker Throgmorton
Staff Writer
Kony 2012 is a campaign that has recently taken the American youth by storm. The Ugandan Joseph Kony is one of the most wanted men in the world for countless crimes against humanity. Some of these crimes include murder, rape, sexual enslavement, enslavement of civilians, and forced enlistment of children into the rebel ranks. Kony 2012, directed by the charity Invisible Children Inc, became an internet sensation when it garnered almost 20 million views in its first two days online. According to the online video, their chief purpose is “to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.”
Since the formation of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Kony has kidnapped children and forced them into his army; the boys become foot soldiers and the girls become sex slaves. This perverted warlord has been doing this since the late 80’s and has reportedly forced approximately 66,000 children to fight for him. One of his common tactics is to kill the family and neighbors of the children, giving them no where to go. They can either join or die.
Facebook and Twitter news feeds have been blown up by friends sharing the link to the Invisible Children’s video or using a variation of the hash-tag “#Kony12.” The point of the film is to make “Kony famous, not to celebrate him,” and it seems it is working. With over 84 million views, this video has certainly raised awareness about the atrocities going on in Africa. LOHS freshman Mckenna Garneau reflected, “The video made me realize how good my life really is and how we, as Americans, have it made. Although this has been going on for a number of years, Kony needs to be stopped now.”
Students interested in joining the cause can do several things. The first (and most important) is to make Joseph Kony famous, “make his name a household name,” as the video says. To help, students can message the targeted celebrities on the video to spread the cause. Those celebrities do, in fact, have the loudest voices. The next targeted group is the politicians who actually have the authority to see Kony captured. “When the citizens by the hundreds of thousands start demanding that our government do something, suddenly it becomes in the national interest of the United State’s government to respond to this problem.” Hundreds of thousands of posters and merchandise have been produced to make others aware. All of the necessities to join in publicizing the cause come in the advertised “Action Kit,” which includes bracelets, posters, buttons, and many more items which can all be bought at Kony2012.com. The most dramatic part in this campaign will take place on April 20th, and not for the reasons you may be thinking of. At sundown on that day, activists will “cover the night” with Kony 2012. This calls for supporters to cover their cities with posters, stickers, and signs all night for the cause. After April 20th, it will be impossible for any American to not know who Joseph Kony is.
Whether it’s sharing the video on Facebook, donating a couple bucks, or buying a t-shirt, it all helps. Students interested in helping or getting more information should visit the website Kony2012.com. Kony 2012: Stop at Nothing.
