So
if you are into social media like me then you have noticed the recent increase
of postings about Kony
2012. At first glance, I thought… okay
Invisible Children is getting
their name out there more but after seeing friend after friend post, I thought
something more is occurring. And then… I
starting hearing the documentary was going viral.
Invisible
Children hopes to make Joseph Kony’s name so well-known that it will lead to his
arrest and end “Africa’s longest running war”. The group uses grass-roots methods to bring
awareness about the atrocities occurring in northern Uganda to young people. They
spend most of their time talking to other young people asking them to use their
voice to influence politicians.
What
amazes me when examining Kony 2012 campaign is that the group originally was
started by three young film makers after traveling to Uganda. They went in
search of a story and found young people, who were being attacked, kidnapped,
raped and forced into the Lord Resistance Army. They then returned to the US
and formed Invisible Children and created films in order to bring international
attention to this issue.
So I
wonder is this really social change? Can
twenty-somethings traveling around the U.S. - screening films, speaking out really
making a difference in Uganda? I mean
these are young people that have never traveled to Uganda, they don’t have
political positions, aren’t celebrities … but they are fighting for the rights
of youth across the world. They use
modern social media and hope “friends”, “twits”
and “viral videos” will spark a fire that
eventually leads to the arrest of Joseph Kony!
I get the sense that Invisible Children is hoping
the international attention on Kony will finally provide enough to outweigh the
cost of changing the situation in northern Uganda. However, I worry like many
others if Invisible Children is providing a too simplistic approach to how to
solve the Kony issue in Uganda. I mean,
will the arrest of one man, really bring about the necessary changes. What steps will the country take to address
the number of young people that have spent years in essence brainwashed into
becoming killers, how will they prevent someone else from just stepping into
Kony’s shoes, and how do they see their country moving forward.
Burke in his chapter, Conceptual Models for Understanding Organization Change, provides
David Gleicher’s formula for readiness to accept and implement change. The change formula does not work if there is not a clear desired goal or even steps in place to begin the change. These are questions; I am not sure the international community, especially the U.S., can answer for Uganda.
I am not sure if this will be the year that brings
the arrest of Kony! My hope is not just
his arrest but sustainable change in Uganda! However, I am inspired that young
people are taking notice of international issues and realizing the voice they
have.
Interesting post, and I agree with your statements. Sometimes, however, the change needed is to improve awareness. Sometimes just getting people to be aware of the situation is enough. I think a good example of this was Occupy Wall Street, which has now disbanded because they didn not map out the steps for the desired change. So, is awareness enough?
ReplyDeleteDr. Friedel
ReplyDeleteI think you are right there is a need and place for awareness. Hopefully, after Uganda gets better, these young people will look back and realize the small role they played in helping to bring awareness. I wonder where we would be if young people didn't stand up and use their voices and speak up against injustice. I am reminded of the Freedom Riders from Fisk University who risked a lot more and ended up in jail. The difference that time was the country realized eventually the status quo system could not continue - change was necessary. I still question at times, however if there were clear steps of the desired long-term change. Somedays it feels like we are still in the pre-civil rights era - such as the recent Trayvon Martin killing (perhaps I need to blog about that....)