Kony 2012

Nick Koenig
Article #9
North County Times
Dad-son talk, celebrity tweets key to viral video
http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/web-star-born-kony-video-gets-millions-of-views/article_a4e0ea9b-de66-5b79-952b-0c12de77db85.html

Kony's Crimes

     Joseph Kony, leader of LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), has been popular in a matter of days sense the upload of a viral YouTube video about Kony's crimes. (The link will bring you to this viral video. Please take these 30 minutes to watch this important video and learn how you can help and further events! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc) To summarize this crisis, Kony is believed to be the worst man alive. In Africa, he kidnaps children to kill their own parents -as well as others- and to serve in his young army. The boys, used in the army. The girls, sex slaves. And his actions haven't just started. This has been happening for years, and sadly, no one has noticed until now, thanks to some interviews in Africa. In addition, the amount of children isn't just a couple hundred, it is thousands. Thousands of children, who have killed their parents, others, and have been abused in someway. Former celebrities, including Rhianna, Justin Bieber, & Oprah Winfrey, have been helping the organization to stop Kony's actions, known as the Invisible Children. Rhianna tweets, "Even if its 10 minutes ... Trust me, you NEED to know about this!" Justin Bieber with, "This is not a joke. This is serious. TOGETHER we can (hash)MakeAChange and (hash)STOPKRONY -- help another kid in need!" And Oprah with, "Have supported with $'s and voice and will not stop." Another statement, that should be a fact is, "Kony is a monster. He deserves to be prosecuted and hanged." said Col. Felix Kulayigye.

     This connects to what we are learning in class because the disputes between the states and the delegates, all the compromises and laws had to be approved by the majority of the 13 states. In the video, it states Kony isn't famous yet, and with the information the people have, Congress won't listen. They are trying all they can to make Kony national...maybe international, so Congress would care about the issue. By everyone against Kony, all of the U.S. would be in favor of the action of capturing Kony, which then Congress would have to approve.

     This affects my life as a citizen because it effects everyones lives. I am very greatful I am not one of the children in Africa, and so are others, and that is why we are all trying to stop Kony, not only because it is unfair to the children, but because Kony is a monster, and doing this for no cause at all, just to keep his power. On April 20, 2012, there is going to be a Cover the Night program, where everyone participating will go throughoput the streets hanging up posters of Kony 2012 everywhere, and if I can I am going to participate in it with my friend Dina. Another way it connects to not only my life, but the lives of others is that on the poster, it states Kony 2012, with Kony as well as the two other famous disasters, Osama & Hitler. By this poster baring this, the symbolism is showing Kony's actions are as disasterous, chaotic, and horrifying as the other two's actions.

     My opinion about Kony's actions are unexplainable. Who does this to children? Far worse, who does this to children with no cause at all? Kony shouldn't deserve to live. The ratio to his death to the deaths of the children's parents would be the same number, because Kony is so monsterous, his death would bring peace. Now my opinion about the people participating in this big fight against Kony. I believe they have huge hearts and I also believe this is one thing everyone in our nation feels the same about and wants to help. It's sad how we only knew Kony for about a couple days when he has been doing this for years.