Love All The People

Objections based on the violent nature of the action, misleading nature of the videos and even shaming Invisible Children for using ‘white guilt’ as a tactic are really just getting petty. 

Complaining that only 32% of the money goes to the cause is assuming that the main aim of the organisation is direct action, and it’s pretty clear from the video that it’s not. Of course most of the money goes to further the interests of the charity, namely spreading the word and spreading awareness. 

I’m well aware that the most part of people that shared that video are not going to donate any money, nor will they probably take any further action towards the capture of Joseph Kony, but at least they shared it. At least the video has been seen and at least his infamy has spread all over the world, almost singularly thanks to the videos produced (probably using that spare 68%) by Invisible Children.

Also, the phrase ‘armchair activism’ is pretty transparently condescending. I realise that as a person who is passionately involved in this kind of social activism it must be frustrating for such a movement to occur with apparently little to no further research on the part of most people who posted the video.

BUT implying hipocrisy and shaming people for not making enough of an effort, for not dedicating enough of their lives to any cause they choose to support and spread is self-important and unbelievably counter-productive.

Activists themselves, or more specifically, people who dedicate their lives to activism, should embrace and celebrate the use of social media to shed light on atrocities and injustices, and hopefully encourage change as a result.