In terms of going viral, the Kony 2012 video might as well be the Bubonic Plague. In about two weeks, this video has been viewed over 70 million times!
The video that's all over the internet was put out by the Invisible Children with the express purpose of exposing the horrible war crimes of Joseph Kony with the goal of causing the American people to make so much noise about it that it forces our politicians to stay involved in stopping him. If you have not seen the video, I highly encourage you to watch it in its entirety. You'll have to set aside 30 minutes of your time, but it is worth it.
Why We Should Care
...learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. -- Isaiah 1:17
Those who follow God are commanded to care! Over and over, Jesus Himself demonstrated the character of God by spending time with the outcasts and ministering to the needy. James tells us that there is no truer way to live out your faith than to look after widows and orphans in their distress (James 1:27). Our God cares for those who are oppressed and defenseless. So should we.
I Heard the Whole Kony Thing is a Scam
There are articles being written and videos being put out that trash talk the Invisible Children's movement to stop Kony. I don't have all of the answers and I don't know all of the details. But I spent some time looking into this and here is what I've found. The two most common criticisms and what I've found as I researched are as follows...
- Criticism: Kony isn't even in Uganda anymore! You are sending help to the wrong place!
Response: Yes and no. The video clearly said that Kony and his army have left Uganda and are in other central African countries now. There is even an animation at one point in the video showing the army leaving Uganda and spreading out! The Invisible Children organization knows this. They are requesting to send aid to Uganda because the government of Uganda is still actively pursuing Kony for his crimes against Uganda. - Criticism: Kony is rumored dead and his army hasn't struck again in years.
Response: From what I've read, the American and Ugandan governments still believe Kony is alive. Rumors of his death are just rumors and should not be taken seriously. His army hasn't struck out as badly as it did 10 years ago because, with US aid, the Ugandan government has him on the run! Yet just because he hasn't struck recently doesn't mean we should forget about the thousands of brainwashed soldiers and sex slaves he has or pretend that he won't strike again. His recent inactivity should not trick us into forgetting about him.
I highly encourage you to support the Invisible Children's Kony 2012 campaign. From everything I've read and seen, this is a very worthy cause. Go to www.kony2012.com to learn how you can sign the pledge, get an Action Pack, donate money, and spread the word.
If you aren't sure if Kony 2012 is worth your involvement, then please at least allow this to wake you up to the great needs around the world. As Christians, we need to stand up for the oppressed. There is an organization known as the International Justice Mission. It is a Christian human rights agency dedicated to rescuing victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and violent oppression around the world. Please check out their website at http://www.ijm.org/
God's heart breaks for the oppressed and ours should to. Let your heartbreak stir you to action. Share the cause with others and do what you can to support Kony 2012 or IJM.
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