Before I continue I'd like to emphasise that, in making this decleration I'm not saying I'm better than anyone, I'm simply stating why I've made this choice. I'm also not about to try and write hateful words about Invisible Children, that isn't what this is about either.
Students love to protest. Since we realised that being in a big group of people who had the same ideas and thoughts on liberation we've been banding together for the greater good, trying to get what we want, standing up to the lions of injustice and fighting for freedom.
But has the internet changed this?
I remember my mum telling me about her days at university, when the Queen came to Stirling and students were out in hoards, protesting against her with their actual voices, not the ones that appeared through their keyboards, and holding up signs that they had made by their own efforts, not paid $30 for or downloaded from a website.
As stated above, twenty-four hours has been more than enough time for me to make up my mind about Invisible Children and then change it again. Maybe it's a sign about the human condition and a general lack of trust, but I think a lot of it lies in two things: firstly, my generation's fear of leaving the mob behind and going it alone. Secondly, the frenzy that the media are able to whip up by creating a thirty minute video.
If you don't know about the London riots over tuition fees, check this out:
Y'know what baffles me the most about this? These riots weren't started by students, they were started by a group of people who just wanted, well, a bit of a riot. Before this began there were some really peaceful protests by some really respectful students who just wanted to keep tuition fees the way they were.
The difference with Kony 2012 is that it has now made people aware of what's going on in Uganda but because of all the criticism Invisible Children have been getting, no one's really sure what to do next; it's understandable. The media (whether that be a newspaper you can purchase or the everyday citizen journalist), just like the government, throw as much information at us to try and get us on their side and it just confuses us even more.
The most scary part about the Kony 2012 video is that it was made incredibly well. It had atmospheric music that made you want to cry at the right times and riled you up to a state of excitment the next. It showed images of mutilated children's faces and soldiers with guns. It was narrated by the calm, kind voice of a white American with scenes of his adorable son. It was a brilliant film.
I don't know if supporting Kony 2012 is the right thing to do. I don't want to harm the people of Uganda any further but I also don't want to pretend like I'm okay with the child soldier situation, because I think it's horrendous.
But, for now, I will be jumping off the Kony 2012 bandwagon, keeping my lips sealed and my thoughts to myself . Some of you might say "I told you so", and some might think I'm being apathetic, but I'm just happy I made up my own mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment