KONY 2012

[The Soviet Technocracy]

Joseph Kony is the lunatic/mass murdering scum bag who runs the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.

You're implying that not all of Africa has lunatics/mass murdering scumbags.

The entire continent is a little slice of hell, excepting Egypt and Morocco.

[Romatticus]

Joseph Kony is the lunatic/mass murdering scum bag who runs the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.

You're implying that not all of Africa has lunatics/mass murdering scumbags.

The entire continent is a little slice of hell, excepting Egypt and Morocco.

Yeah, but someone makes one video about one of them in one country and none of that matters.

[The Soviet Technocracy]

Because the Pope and Khameni don't kidnap children and force them to use automatic weaponry such as rifles against enemies of the state as full-time alternatives to an adult volunteer militia.

So we're not issuing arrest warrants to the governments of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries for actively deploying child soliders? Are we not going to arrest the leaders of communist guerilla group FARC for actively using child soldiers in attacks against regular Colombian forces?

Something tells me arresting Kony won't make a difference at all.

It'll just make it easier for the roving band of warlords, rapists, and murderers called the "Ugandan Army" to consolidate power tbh.

[Costa Fiero]

It'll just make it easier for the roving band of warlords, rapists, and murderers called the "Ugandan Army" to consolidate power tbh.

They already control Uganda. The LRA is operating in neighbouring countries such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also, Uganda's army only answers to one man and he's pretty much consolidated power already.

What I am getting at is why is Kony so deserving of all this attention? Sure, he makes children into soldiers and slaves but so did South Sudan. So does FNL in Burundi and so does the government forces there. The Chadian military also uses child soldiers. Thousands of child soldiers serve in rebel groups and in government forces in Uganda's neighbour, Congo. So why aren't we calling for the arrest and/or execution of Joseph Kabila, the Congolese President, or Chadian President Idriss Déby, or Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza?

And why Africa? What about the child slaves in Eastern Europe and Thailand? What about the child soldiers and slaves in Mexico and Colombia? What about the thousands of child soldiers in the military of Bolivia?

This is nothing but a drop in the water of this issue. Getting rid of Kony isn't "problem solved" like so many of those naive people on facebook think it is.

[Grave_n_idle]

I think you've missed the point.

Cool your jets and go back and make sure the point you're objecting to says what you think it says.

I don't know what you're getting at by essentially saying Kony is still in Uganda when in fact there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. My point still stands because Kony is not in Uganda and hasn't been for the past few years.

I advised you to actually go back and read - because I'm not claiming Kony is still in Uganda, and neither does the "Kony 2012" video we were discussing - a point that has already been addressed and sourced within this thread.

You're fighting a shadow. The argument you think you're having... isn't happening. Go back and read.

[Grave_n_idle]

It'll just make it easier for the roving band of warlords, rapists, and murderers called the "Ugandan Army" to consolidate power tbh.

They already control Uganda. The LRA is operating in neighbouring countries such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also, Uganda's army only answers to one man and he's pretty much consolidated power already.

What I am getting at is why is Kony so deserving of all this attention? Sure, he makes children into soldiers and slaves but so did South Sudan. So does FNL in Burundi and so does the government forces there. The Chadian military also uses child soldiers. Thousands of child soldiers serve in rebel groups and in government forces in Uganda's neighbour, Congo. So why aren't we calling for the arrest and/or execution of Joseph Kabila, the Congolese President, or Chadian President Idriss Déby, or Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza?

And why Africa? What about the child slaves in Eastern Europe and Thailand? What about the child soldiers and slaves in Mexico and Colombia? What about the thousands of child soldiers in the military of Bolivia?

This is nothing but a drop in the water of this issue. Getting rid of Kony isn't "problem solved" like so many of those naive people on facebook think it is.

I'm really not sure how this absolutist nonsense makes any sense in anyone's head.

Bringing Kony to justice does not solve every problem. I don't think anyone has suggested it does.

But your alternative apparently, is to do nothing.

There's a movement that might do the tiniest little bit of good, and you're arguing we should oppose a tiny bit of good, because it doesn't solve EVERY problem. That's a nonsensical absolutist position.

[Costa Fiero]

I'm really not sure how this absolutist nonsense makes any sense in anyone's head.

Ooh, we do have a high opinion of ourselves now don't we?

Bringing Kony to justice does not solve every problem. I don't think anyone has suggested it does.

Who said it was every problem? Getting rid of Kony won't solve anything either in Uganda or the Congo or South Sudan. There will always be someone to take Kony's place and continue the conflict and lead the LRA. The Colombians would be the first person to tell yu that shooting dead or arresting the leader of FARC has done little to stop their activities in the jungles.

But your alternative apparently, is to do nothing.

Because it will achieve nothing anyway. If you're naive enough to believe that any good will come out of removing Kony, you obviously don't know anything about these types of groups nor anything about the situation there. There will still be people like him ready and willing to continue the fight and there will be bloodshed because of it.

There's a movement that might do the tiniest little bit of good, and you're arguing we should oppose a tiny bit of good, because it doesn't solve EVERY problem. That's a nonsensical absolutist position.

It's not nonsensical. Because this movement is, whilst conceived with good intentions, is flawed. It doesn't solve anything at all. As I explained above, the bloodshed will still continue, the violence and suffering will still continue, regardless of what Invisible Children or anyone does. Somalia is a good example.

[Pope Joan]

"Jason Russell, who directed and starred in the “Kony 2012” video that has been viewed more than 100 million times this month, was detained by the San Diego Police Department on Thursday, accused of masturbating in public and vandalizing cars, NBC San Diego reports"
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0 ... pitalized/

But it's all ok since the poor boy was a victim of dehydration.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/j ... 70255.html

[Costa Fiero]

"Jason Russell, who directed and starred in the “Kony 2012” video that has been viewed more than 100 million times this month, was detained by the San Diego Police Department on Thursday, accused of masturbating in public and vandalizing cars, NBC San Diego reports"
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0 ... pitalized/

But it's all ok since the poor boy was a victim of dehydration.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/j ... 70255.html

So a lack of water makes people strip naked, vandalize cars and masturbate in public? I find this hard to believe.

[Santorian]

I agree that Joseph Kony should be arrested for war crimes, but I have a big problem with the "charity" group who produced the "Kony 2012" video.

They do not spend all their money on capturing Kony, and that they stand with the Ugandan and Sudanese army, the two of which are accused of some human rights violations.

And yet their founder Jason Russell (director of the Kony video) is deranged whilst being naked.

[Altimaea]

"Jason Russell, who directed and starred in the “Kony 2012” video that has been viewed more than 100 million times this month, was detained by the San Diego Police Department on Thursday, accused of masturbating in public and vandalizing cars, NBC San Diego reports"
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0 ... pitalized/

But it's all ok since the poor boy was a victim of dehydration.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/j ... 70255.html

So a lack of water makes people strip naked, vandalize cars and masturbate in public? I find this hard to believe.

IMO the dehydration sounds like the result of being on hallucinogens for a while running around the city wanking. Drugs seem like a logical explanation.

[Sceratians]

Kony for President! Vote for Kony!

Y'know... He's a pretty cool guy

[Odins Scandinavia]

jason russell, it seems, has made it abundantly clear where all the money he took it went, i think.

[Glasgia]

Please, don't donate to invisible children! There are lots of other charities who are actually helping in Uganda. And aren't run by lunatics and sniffers.

Face it guys, Kony 2012 is a scam. Yes, Joseph Kony needs to be arrested, but you're helping the wrong charity. Let’s all have a look at what really goes on inside Invisible Children.

First of all, their co-founders receive over 84 grand each. For a NON-PROFIT charity. Invisible Children also refuses to let other agencies check their finances to see whether they’re doing it for profit. Even worse, they support the Ugandan Army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army who have also been accused of rape, torture, looting and other crimes. Anyway, all Invisible Children really wants is for the US to put more troops into Uganda, because that worked other times. I mean, Iraq was a really popular war wasn’t it? Finally, the numbers you all state. 60,000. Tell me that bullshit again. 60,000. The real figures are estimated at half that amount.

What I’m trying to get at her is this:
Kony deserves to be arrested. He has murdered and abducted thousands, committing crimes previously unknown. The problem is you’re supporting the wrong charity. There are of loads of other charities, who would do better than supporting some slick film made my posing snobs. http://​www.ugandaruralfund.org/​how-you-can-help/donate/ or http://​www.ugandavillageproject.org/​get-involved/donate/ . To support me, Rob Wands, in this repost and add your name at the bottom of the list below.

Rob Wands

Stop Kony, sure, but putting up a few posters for rich twats won't do it. Donate to a proper charity.

[Venolia]

Please, don't donate to invisible children! There are lots of other charities who are actually helping in Uganda. And aren't run by lunatics and sniffers.

Face it guys, Kony 2012 is a scam. Yes, Joseph Kony needs to be arrested, but you're helping the wrong charity. Let’s all have a look at what really goes on inside Invisible Children.

First of all, their co-founders receive over 84 grand each. For a NON-PROFIT charity. Invisible Children also refuses to let other agencies check their finances to see whether they’re doing it for profit. Even worse, they support the Ugandan Army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army who have also been accused of rape, torture, looting and other crimes. Anyway, all Invisible Children really wants is for the US to put more troops into Uganda, because that worked other times. I mean, Iraq was a really popular war wasn’t it? Finally, the numbers you all state. 60,000. Tell me that bullshit again. 60,000. The real figures are estimated at half that amount.

What I’m trying to get at her is this:
Kony deserves to be arrested. He has murdered and abducted thousands, committing crimes previously unknown. The problem is you’re supporting the wrong charity. There are of loads of other charities, who would do better than supporting some slick film made my posing snobs. http://​www.ugandaruralfund.org/​how-you-can-help/donate/ or http://​www.ugandavillageproject.org/​get-involved/donate/ . To support me, Rob Wands, in this repost and add your name at the bottom of the list below.

Rob Wands

Stop Kony, sure, but putting up a few posters for rich twats won't do it. Donate to a proper charity.

So true! So true...

[Glasgia]

Please, don't donate to invisible children! There are lots of other charities who are actually helping in Uganda. And aren't run by lunatics and sniffers.

Face it guys, Kony 2012 is a scam. Yes, Joseph Kony needs to be arrested, but you're helping the wrong charity. Let’s all have a look at what really goes on inside Invisible Children.

First of all, their co-founders receive over 84 grand each. For a NON-PROFIT charity. Invisible Children also refuses to let other agencies check their finances to see whether they’re doing it for profit. Even worse, they support the Ugandan Army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army who have also been accused of rape, torture, looting and other crimes. Anyway, all Invisible Children really wants is for the US to put more troops into Uganda, because that worked other times. I mean, Iraq was a really popular war wasn’t it? Finally, the numbers you all state. 60,000. Tell me that bullshit again. 60,000. The real figures are estimated at half that amount.

What I’m trying to get at her is this:
Kony deserves to be arrested. He has murdered and abducted thousands, committing crimes previously unknown. The problem is you’re supporting the wrong charity. There are of loads of other charities, who would do better than supporting some slick film made my posing snobs. http://​www.ugandaruralfund.org/​how-you-can-help/donate/ or http://​www.ugandavillageproject.org/​get-involved/donate/ . To support me, Rob Wands, in this repost and add your name at the bottom of the list below.

Rob Wands

Stop Kony, sure, but putting up a few posters for rich twats won't do it. Donate to a proper charity.

So true! So true...

If you're gonna repost something and think you're social activist, at least post the right thing

[Euroslavia]

So a lack of water makes people strip naked, vandalize cars and masturbate in public? I find this hard to believe.

IMO the dehydration sounds like the result of being on hallucinogens for a while running around the city wanking. Drugs seem like a logical explanation.

Well shit, I better bring a water bottle with me when I have to drive an hour and a half to work. I don't want to end up dehydrated, then next thing you know, unzipping my pants.... in a grocery store. Oh my.

[Odins Scandinavia]

IMO the dehydration sounds like the result of being on hallucinogens for a while running around the city wanking. Drugs seem like a logical explanation.

Well shit, I better bring a water bottle with me when I have to drive an hour and a half to work. I don't want to end up dehydrated, then next thing you know, unzipping my pants.... in a grocery store. Oh my.

lets be honest, how many of us would do just that if we thought we'd get away with it...

[Grave_n_idle]

Please, don't donate to invisible children! There are lots of other charities who are actually helping in Uganda. And aren't run by lunatics and sniffers.

Face it guys, Kony 2012 is a scam. Yes, Joseph Kony needs to be arrested, but you're helping the wrong charity. Let’s all have a look at what really goes on inside Invisible Children.

First of all, their co-founders receive over 84 grand each. For a NON-PROFIT charity. Invisible Children also refuses to let other agencies check their finances to see whether they’re doing it for profit. Even worse, they support the Ugandan Army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army who have also been accused of rape, torture, looting and other crimes. Anyway, all Invisible Children really wants is for the US to put more troops into Uganda, because that worked other times. I mean, Iraq was a really popular war wasn’t it? Finally, the numbers you all state. 60,000. Tell me that bullshit again. 60,000. The real figures are estimated at half that amount.

What I’m trying to get at her is this:
Kony deserves to be arrested. He has murdered and abducted thousands, committing crimes previously unknown. The problem is you’re supporting the wrong charity. There are of loads of other charities, who would do better than supporting some slick film made my posing snobs. http://​www.ugandaruralfund.org/​how-you-can-help/donate/ or http://​www.ugandavillageproject.org/​get-involved/donate/ . To support me, Rob Wands, in this repost and add your name at the bottom of the list below.

Rob Wands

Stop Kony, sure, but putting up a few posters for rich twats won't do it. Donate to a proper charity.

Copy-and-pasting someone being wrong on another format doesn't make it any less wrong here.

Invisible Children have not petitioned for more troops. People who work for non-profits can still get paid. Invisible Children's figures have been externally audited, and the results can be located via their website.

Whoever this 'rob wands' is that you're citing, he's intellectually dishonest. So, go ahead and repost it with your name attached, as he apparently asks. That way, we can quite easily track all the people who have opinions they lack the intellectual curiousity to research, by just glancing through the catalogue of self-shame at the foot of the page.

[Knask]

Kony is the commander. He is the one giving the orders, from the top. He has given the orders, and I've linked you to different organizations verifying that:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1017670/Joseph-Kony

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4320858.stm


Of course he had something to gain. Sexual release for himself and his men, and striking terror into the civilian population, among other things.

As for the interview... That would be the interview where he claims to have no child soldiers in his army?


Despite the fact that he lied about using child soldiers, you still find him credible? And nevermind about me, I'm a faceless voice on the internet. The question would be, why are UNICEF, HRW, UNHCR etc. not credible sources to you?


Please point out where I've said anything of the sort.


[Citation still needed]


...

This is an honest question, because I'm getting to be a bit concerned.

Have you... have you even read my posts? You know, the posts with multiple sources and references?


Why the double standard? I mean, he said he didn't force them (despite the fact that it's clear that he did), so why isn't that good enough for you now, all of a sudden?


Because of his own statement, and disregarding the overwhelming evidence to the contrary?


Wrong.

If, despite all of the available evidence, and against all likelihood he didn't order these things, nor condoned the acts or knew about them but did nothing to stop the soldiers under his command, he shouldn't be punished for them. I'm just amazed that you base your judgement on one interview with the guy and disregard everything else.

It seems like you refuse to believe sources (some from 2005-2006, I might add) because that would support parts of the Kony 2012 video, and you're so strongly opposed to the video that you cannot deal with that. You should try looking beyond the viral videos. Instead, read The Night Wanderers by Wojciech Jagielski, or The Wizard of the Nile: The Hunt for Africa's Most Wanted by Matthew Green if you can't be bothered to read official NGO reports.

You are absolutely, positively, affirmitively, in-no-way-worng, 100 %, correct.

Indeed I am, as multiple independent and credible sources show.

[Aquophia]

They keep most of the donated money.
They disabled the comments when the truth and dislikes started to grow.
The leader is apparently very much insane, wanks in public and blames it on "dehydration".

Face it guys, you were conned. I only hope that the video's success was a random fluke that way even more malicious people don't learn how to spread propagnada in the same way.

[Grave_n_idle]

They keep most of the donated money.

They've been pretty clear about what money goes where. Spending money on advocacy or media is not the same as keeping it.

But this has already been well addressed.

They disabled the comments when the truth and dislikes started to grow.

Youtube does not guarantee you free expression on someone else's content.

The leader is apparently very much insane, wanks in public and blames it on "dehydration".

We're talking about one incident? You make it sound like it's habitual.

Not that it would matter, of course. Ad hominem attacks may tarnish the messenger, but they say nothing to the message.

Face it guys, you were conned.

Conned how? Are you under the impression that everyone that is arguing the opposite side to you invested money in it?

I only hope that the video's success was a random fluke that way even more malicious people don't learn how to spread propagnada in the same way.

Based on what we've seen in this thread, your hope is a forlorn one, because people keep trotting out 'popular' videos as rebuttal.

[Distruzio]

LATEST UPDATES:
March 15: Leader of the Ugandan Democratic Party response to KONY 2012.
March 12: Invisible Children's CEO talks specifically about the group's finances.

---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Thought I would post this here and see what NSG thinks. I'm typically very non-interventionist, but a couple things about this fellow as presented in this documentary have furrowed my brow. For one thing, his only cause in abducting these tens of thousands of children seems to be to retain the power he currently has - not political, just military strength. For another, the only reason people like this exist is because of current international intervention going off the record: this isn't mentioned in the film, but Uganda does not manufacture Soviet and American arms.

Anyway, a very well-done video, whatever your stance, and I highly recommend everyone watch it whether or not it incites you to the action the documentary is suggesting. It says some very interesting things about our globalized world, especially through social networking, and what it means for us when it comes to issues like this, especially in how we can deal with it as individuals who are not in politics or relevant professional fields. It'd be neat to see some discussion on that too. Can the internet, when used properly, incite effective action on this level?

Just finished the video.

That filmmaker is a fucking lunatic. This was unbelievably offensive to me. He is either ignorant of the founding principles of the US, or he doesn't give a shit. His self-righteous do-good moral adventurism is just the type that led Europe to drown in blood following the French Revolution and drowned Russia in blood following the Bolshevik Revolution. Fighting for abstract ideals is the path to genocide.

He tried to lobby the US gov't to "do something" but was rebuked b/c US interests are not in Uganda. So he now lobbies the American public to try to force the US gov't to take military action against a man who uses children as a military resource b/c kidnapping children is bad, but killing kids is right. Fuck this guy. Fuck his cause. Fuck "Kony 2012."

Why doesn't he hire mercenaries or something to settle accounts with Kony, if he is so desperate to do anything? It'd be cheaper, risk the lives of fewer children, and satisfy his bloodlust.

[Grave_n_idle]

This was unbelievably offensive to me. He is either ignorant of the founding principles of the US, or he doesn't give a shit.

Indeed. The US was, after all, founded on the explicit principle of letting the innocent die.

I can't remember exactly where in the Constitution that is, though. You might have to help me out.

He tried to lobby the US gov't to "do something" but was rebuked b/c US interests are not in Uganda.

He wasn't rebuked. Not only that, but the US gov't has done something.

I thought you said you watched the film?

[Glasgia]

Please, don't donate to invisible children! There are lots of other charities who are actually helping in Uganda. And aren't run by lunatics and sniffers.

Face it guys, Kony 2012 is a scam. Yes, Joseph Kony needs to be arrested, but you're helping the wrong charity. Let’s all have a look at what really goes on inside Invisible Children.

First of all, their co-founders receive over 84 grand each. For a NON-PROFIT charity. Invisible Children also refuses to let other agencies check their finances to see whether they’re doing it for profit. Even worse, they support the Ugandan Army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army who have also been accused of rape, torture, looting and other crimes. Anyway, all Invisible Children really wants is for the US to put more troops into Uganda, because that worked other times. I mean, Iraq was a really popular war wasn’t it? Finally, the numbers you all state. 60,000. Tell me that bullshit again. 60,000. The real figures are estimated at half that amount.

What I’m trying to get at her is this:
Kony deserves to be arrested. He has murdered and abducted thousands, committing crimes previously unknown. The problem is you’re supporting the wrong charity. There are of loads of other charities, who would do better than supporting some slick film made my posing snobs. http://​www.ugandaruralfund.org/​how-you-can-help/donate/ or http://​www.ugandavillageproject.org/​get-involved/donate/ . To support me, Rob Wands, in this repost and add your name at the bottom of the list below.

Rob Wands

Stop Kony, sure, but putting up a few posters for rich twats won't do it. Donate to a proper charity.

Copy-and-pasting someone being wrong on another format doesn't make it any less wrong here.

Invisible Children have not petitioned for more troops. People who work for non-profits can still get paid. Invisible Children's figures have been externally audited, and the results can be located via their website.

Whoever this 'rob wands' is that you're citing, he's intellectually dishonest. So, go ahead and repost it with your name attached, as he apparently asks. That way, we can quite easily track all the people who have opinions they lack the intellectual curiousity to research, by just glancing through the catalogue of self-shame at the foot of the page.

You're very lucky to be hiding behind a computer screen.
A) Rob Wands is me
B) I spent a good few hours looking through multiple sites for and against Kony 2012
C) You insult me and my way of getting to people, but don't state any reasons why. If you researched it, I'm sure you'd find it hard to argue. You would of course, being the flamer you are, still attempt it