KONY, Change, And Fighting Apathy

Almost four years ago, our President Barack Hussien Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States of America. As one of the youngest and the first black American to achieve the head of state role, Obama ran on the campaign of “CHANGE.” Many gravitated towards his campaign and believed President Obama had the ‘magical powers’ to do so. But as we have seen, one man could not do it all by himself.

As cliché as it sounds, we are all part of this world and each of us should take a hand in caring for it. Have you ever walked around and said, “Why don’t we have _______{insert a need}?” or why doesn’t she or he do _______{insert another need}? Anytime you pose these questions, you have an opportunity to take it upon yourself to change something.

I believe everyone wants to make a difference; many just don’t know how. I personally believe God gave all of us gifts and talents to find issues, solve them, and make the world better for those to come.

KONY 2012

Most recently “KONY 2012″ was a great example of people making an effort to seek change. On Monday March 5, Invisible Children, Inc. uploaded a 30-minute documentary to Youtube that called for viewers to take action against the Ugandan guerilla group leader, Joseph Kony, by making him famous. Kony is responsible for turning thousands of children into gun-toting soldiers who killed their parents and young girls into sex slaves. Many people were emotionally touched by the video and began sharing it using social media. They were also urged to push their favorite entertainers and politicians to do something too.

A week later, there is a ‘now what?’ feeling in the air, and all the do-good hype that once surrounded it, has been replaced with questions of how the Invisible Children, Inc. is using the money that’s donated to them. Others have stated that Kony has not been a threat in more than 5 years to Northern Uganda. Lastly many Ugandans are not happy because the video has made them seem voiceless and left out many truths. All in all this has become one big confusing issue.

However, whether you believed in the KONY movement or not, you have to agree that the documentary impacted many people in a short amount of time and gathered their support, even from those who have never been to Uganda. That in itself is powerful.

So how can we start our own movement(s)?

Which brings me back to my original point. Most people want to be part of making a change and doing something big that can help others. A tweet can be a starting point, but more should follow. So how can one solve issues that they care about and believe in? Here are a few things that came to mind:

1. Start a business that’s lacking in the community or industry that interests you. Inc. magazine is a great resource.

2. Volunteer. Join an organization that matches your beliefs.

3. Attend community meetings or start your own meetings to discuss issues that matter to you. This can be a way to encourage action.

3. Write a petition. Use change.org is one.

4. Start an informative blog/website.

5. Use Kickstarter to fund a movement you want to create.

6. Write and send letters/call politicians.

7. Plan a fundraiser event.

Etc.

Now by no means am I a superwoman advocate. But there are so many ways art, media, science, engineering, architecture, education, law and politics, business, and religious institutions can be used to create solutions. Everyone has a role and we must play it.

Ask yourself what have you done with your skills and talents that may help someone? It can be providing music that helps people get through their day, opening a restaurant in your neighborhood that people would have to travel far to enjoy, or a new technology that allows people to communicate more effectively. The abundance of ideas are infinite.

When we think of changing the world, it’s easy to think about poor foreign countries, like in the case with KONY. Although on a global level we need change, much work needs to be done in the local communities we already live in.

It’s easy to sit back and say and do nothing. But apathy is just as bad as doing nothing at all.

-Natelege Whaley

How do you feel about KONY 2012? Also what does change mean to you and have I left out any resources or ideas above? Feel free to share below.