The Movement to Stop Joseph Kony

 This week in English class, one of my classmates mentioned the KONY 2012 video. I’m sure that by now the majority of you have watched or at least heard about the movement to stop Joseph Kony. Kony is a guerilla leader in Uganda and head of the LRA (Lords Resistance Army), which is made up of captured children of all ages who were taken from their families and forced to adapt a new lifestyle where murder, rape, and no mercy are a usual occurrence. There is a group called Invisible Children, Inc. that is currently fighting for the capture of Joseph Kony and an end to his armies all together. They made this video where they introduce and explain who Kony is and what the LRA is. They also have devised a plan to bring attention to this problem and bring justice to the children and families in Africa. The video itself is very moving, but the message is dire.

There has been much negative feedback towards the KONY 2012 video and their mission itself. Many are saying that instead of worrying about what’s going on in Africa that we should worry about what’s going on here in the United States and I don’t disagree with those people. Many are saying that no matter how many posters they put up or how many people they alert of the LRA and Kony, the problem will persist and only grow. I think these people are missing the bigger picture when it comes to KONY 2012. What the Invisible Children Inc. group is trying to do is raise the awareness of what’s going on in Africa and persuade people to write to their government so that they can then send help over to Africa. They aren’t saying that each person individually is going to make this change; they are simply saying that Africa needs some support. I enjoy seeing that Americans, especially the younger generations are eager to help and spread the awareness of Joseph Kony. When have so many people from our generation come together for anything? The fact they can find a greater cause to support and reach out to shows how we still have the chance to change other things here in the United States. If as a whole we can come together and persuade our government to send aid to help capture Joseph Kony, imagine what we can come together and change after that. I don’t think people realize the power they hold when they come together as a group and work towards a greater cause. I feel like this video, this movement if you will, will be the beginning of change.

"KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice."  - Invisible Children Inc.