I chose Kony 2012 as an relation to the theme of the movie Hotel Rwanda made in 2004. I selected
Kony 2012 because it relates to propaganda, political issues, violence, drugs, people trying to save their families, abduction, and murder. Although Hotel Rwanda doesn't involve with abduction their are many similarities between Kony and Hotel Rwanda; the reason why I chose to do Kony as my topic. Exactly one year and two months ago as I was scrolling through my Tumblr dashboard I came across a 30 minute length video called "Kony 2012" with
1, 316, 096 re-blogs and today 97, 445, 408 views on YouTube. I thought to myself what is this? As I clicked the video I didn't realize I was a quarter way done the video. Many people kept telling me "It's fake, don't believe them. They're just trying to take your money" but I did my research and as my brain and heart believed in the beginning it was completely true. Watching the video it honestly touched my heart. Seeing and hearing that many children were abducted, drugged by Joseph Kony and were handed a gun to kill their parents and Jacob Acaye whose brother was killed by the LRA story made me want to take action and help them. It made me really furious when John Prendergast the creator of this all tried taking his actions further by asking the government to help them spread the word so people are more aware but the government responded with "There is nothing I can do since this takes place in Uganda and is not associated in the United States". So? Then take action and try to communicate with the connections you have to help stop this nonsense. With the good heart he has he understood the governments response and took action himself with family and friends to spread the word even further by using the internet as their main source. The internet boomed. The word spread like crazy. Friends told friends who told family who told friends who told family and friends and the list goes on. By the time many people in the world were aware their were campaigns, advertisements, donations etc to help the families and children in Uganda it was really starting to make a difference from where they first started.The reason why it is called Kony 2012 is because 2012 was their last chance to try and capture Kony before more danger is done and runs off. Unfortunately, Kony was not captured because he made new plans right away when he heard the military was searching from him to be captured. This really made me realize "Wow, what else could be happening in the world? Possibly even as worse then Kony 2012" just like the same reaction as I watched the movie Hotel Rwanda, what else could have happened or what else is happening in the world we don't know? It's scary but ever since I have been aware, cautious, and curious on what is happening in the world.
Great post. You have started an interesting connection. While Kony and the rebels can be seen as similar to rebels in Rwanda and their use of violence, even toward and with children, is very similar, you have also touched on the propaganda that is the video itself. Reread the definition of the word: propaganda. Do you think the video Kony 2012 fits into the definition? Why or why not? Are we so different from the kids/adults recruited into genocide? How?
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