Here is an interesting post we discussed in my youth group this past weekend criticizing the Kony 2012 movement. The author, TMS Ruge, grew up in Uganda, Kenya, and the US. He founded this website aiming to "motivate, engage and mobilise the African diaspora to take an active role in the continent's development." Overall, he criticizes the way that we (as white Americans) tend to throw money at a problem just to feel good about ourselves. He believes that much of the voice of Africans themselves has been lost among charities (such as Invisible Children) that step in and try to relieve the "White Man's Burden." Ruge raises an important point: should outside nations step in and provide "aid" where help has not been asked for? Social media has been shown to be very powerful in raising awareness, but Kony 2012 may be a misguided attempt that will have very little lasting impact.
Elizabeth