Reaction to KONY at UHS

“Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time is now.”

This slogan appears at the end of the film “Kony 2012,” a short documentary focused on the head of the Lord’s Resistance

Army (LRA), Joseph Kony, in Uganda. Over many years, Kony has kidnapped an estimated 66,000 children in North Uganda, using boys as fighters for his movement and girls as sex slaves.

Sheila Eldred, from Discovery News, reported that, “A non-profit group called “Invisible Children” created the video about the Ugandan warlord. Overnight, it has turned Joseph Kony into a household name in the United States, and raised concerns about his actions in Uganda.”

“Kony should be punished,” said Freshman Alison Slaughter.

Urbana High School students became very passionate about Kony and the movement to stop him.
Senior Marissa Jackson said, “Kony’s acts are terrible, but I personally believe that the problem should have been addressed way earlier than 2012, although you can’t deny that Kony is a troubled person because of what he does to children. No one deserves to live that way [the children].”

Furthermore, students want to help raise awareness.

“I think it’s more important to let everyone know what’s going on. I had never heard of Kony or even the things that were happening in Africa. I respect them getting out the truth, but I wish there was a better way to find him since all the proceeds don’t really go to the cause.” said Sophomore Sophie Kneller.

Approximately 35% of the money raised actually goes to the cause. The rest of the money raised is distributed to management, travel, creating the film and spreading the movement.

Sophomore Tashawn Wilson said, “I know for a fact that it’s a good cause, but I don’t want my money to go towards something else, such as traveling.”

Perhaps what outrages UHS students the most is that they were unaware of Kony’s actions – he just flew below the radar.

Junior Cate Hummel said, “At first, I felt dumb because I hadn’t heard of it. I was mad at myself, and guilty because I didn’t know. Then I was uplifted by what they were doing [to raise money] and wanted to be a part of it.”

It seemed to be nothing but progress from there; however, controversy soon rose over Invisible Children co-founder, Jason Russell’s arrest. Russell was reportedly in his underwear, yelling and disrupting traffic in a San Diego neighborhood.

Furthermore, local police said Russell also appeared to be masturbating in public and vandalizing cars. It is suspected that he was under the influence.

Regardless of Russell’s public display, the fight against Kony should not suffer the consequences. Kony remains to be a criminal whose actions cannot be ignored.

To see the full Kony video, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc.