KONY 2012

McKenzie Fink
NC Times
"Web star born: Kony video gets millions of views"
http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/web-star-born-kony-video-gets-millions-of-views/article_a4e0ea9b-de66-5b79-952b-0c12de77db85.html
A new video about the atrocities of the LRA group, led by Joseph Kony, has now gone viral in an attempt to bring this monster to justice.

This article is about how the group Invisible Children has created a video about the monstrosities of the LRA and its leader, Joseph Kony. Although the video was created just this Monday, it has over 26 million views on Youtube by Thursday. The video was created to support an effort called KONY 2012 that target Kony and the LRA. Col. Felix Kulayigye, the spokesperson for Uganda's military stated, "Kony is a monster. He deserves to be prosecuted and hanged." Many people agree with this statement and that is why this effort began: to end the 26 year history of the LRA and its brutality against children. Experts have estimated that the once thousands strong LRA now has only about 250 fighters. However, the militia still abducts children to force them to fight or worse. A woman named Jolly Okat was once a captive in the LRA but somehow escaped and is now a country director for Invisible Children. Okat says, "The most exciting thing about this film is that I'm so grateful that the world has been able to pay attention to an issue that has been long neglected. I think it is an eye-opener and I think this will push for Joseph Kony to be apprehended, and I think justice will get to him." Many other people have the same hop too. Sadly, the burst of attention has also brought a lot of criticism on Invisible Children's sites. However, Invisible children has posted rebuttals to answer and doubts or criticism that might arise against their cause. Besides those few critics, people from around the world, celebrities and politicians alike, are coming together to end this monstrosity and create peace in Africa, so kids can just be kids.

This article connects to what we are learning in class for a few reasons. First of all, there seems to be either a very weak or just no government in Africa because groups like the LRA are all throughout Africa. This is like the Articles of Confederation because that was a very weak government, just like in Africa. The chaos happening in Africa kind of represents how the states were disorganized and had no proper government. Also, people from around the world are coming together for an important cause: to save these innocent children from being abducted. In a similar fashion, the delegates from each of the states came together for an important cause: to save the nation by creating the Constitution.

This connects to my life because so many regular citizens have come together to do something great. I mean, this whole situation proves that people can do so much more than just sit by and sadly watch the bad things happening in our world. I am just a kid and often times kids feel like they can't do anything to try and change the world. However, this effort has proven otherwise. We don't have an excuse to just sit by and watch as other countries fall apart. Every citizen can do something to help not only our country, but others.

My opinion is that Kony and the LRA need to be found, prosecuted of their crimes, and sentenced to a life filled with the regret of their wrong doings. These people have abducted, tormented, murdered, and terrified children for no reason! The LRA is not fighting for a cause or any beliefs they have, they are just a group of horrific people who are out to steal children to use them. I don't think anyone would want those kinds of monsters in the world. I just hope that people everywhere will come together to save these poor children. Hopefully, Kony and the LRA can be found before the U.S. government pulls its troops out of Africa. I just pray that no more children will be hurt and can return to their family, if they still have one, and just heal from the monstrosities they had to go through. I hope the combined efforts of people around the world will catch these criminals and children in Africa will no longer have to worry about whether or not they are going to be safe when they fall asleep at night.