Pictured: Internet Celebrity Joseph Kony
By now everyone connected to the internet the world over must've heard about the KONY 2012 campaign. The video has been crownded the most viral video of all time seeing as the video got 100 Million views (On Vimeo and YouTube) within days of its release. A thought provoking and powerful 27 minute documentary video created by social charity worker Jason Russell about the horrifying crimes committed by Joseph Kony in the country of Uganda. The video documents how he sustains his rebel force's power by kidnapping children and enslaving them into his vast Child army, forcing them to do horrific crimes of violence, torture and murder. The boys become rebel child soldiers while girls are imprisoned in a life of prostration.
The main purpose of the video created by Jason Russell was to make Joseph Kony famous. Not to celebrate his crimes but to draw awareness to them and for justice to be brought to him. The whole campaign is in hopes of arresting him in this year of 2012.
This video quickly gained notoriety when everyone started posting the video with the simple Kony 2012 tagline. This video got people to care and this day and age its amazing to get anyone to care about anything other than the newest iPhone. It brought people together to work towards this one single goal, that we could all make a difference.
Obviously this video was met with some resistance and negativity as people also questioned the authenticity of the whole video asking whether the campaign's intentions were true or if they were actually accomplishing anything. In fact some just hopped onto the hate train because they were just sick of hearing about Kony.
While this video has pretty much achieved its purpose in getting Joseph Kony a household name, the North Ugandan government and many of its citizens have criticized the video campaign as they claim the information presented is 7 years old and Kony fled North Uganda years ago and doesn't have any presence in North Uganda at all. in fact since then his forces have dwindled greatly as he is a man on the run.
While there has been a lot of negative press about the Kony campaign going around since the initial video I still think the video's message is a valid one. Joseph Kony is a terrible person that does need to answer for this crimes against Humanity. Whether or not the Kony 2012 video presented this video honestly or not the fact still remains he is still at large and he is one of the most wanted men on Earth. This video has done amazing things to get people to care about problems outside their own world which in itself is a remarkable feat.
Creator Jason Russell was arrested recently for running around naked and screaming like a lunatic in San Francisco (Also allegations of masturbation as well). In a official statement from Russell's wife claims stress, dehydration and malnutrition brought on the breakdown which I guess I can understand as how this one video he made has turned him into a overnight star and has been picked apart and stamped as nothing but new age propaganda. While this behaviour certainly reflects poorly on Jason and the campaign itself I can still respect the man as he is honestly trying to change the World and for the better, I don't see how I could be justified in belittling him when he is trying so hard to get people to care about an obvious injustice in the World.
While I stood mostly on the sideline for most part of the social movement I can appreciate the cause and still think it should be a priority of the World forces to find Kony. He may not be going around stealing Ugandan children any more but if there is any sense of justice in the World he will be caught.
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