Friday, March 9, 2012

an invitation to act... maybe

I'm sure most of you have seen this already, but for those who have not...

 

I spent the morning contemplating the situation described in this video and the solution that the producer, Jason Russell, presents.  I rarely give money to humanitarian organizations (largely because I don't have very much), but this seemed doable and after watching, I was definitely influenced emotionally.  But, as I stood in the shower this morning and thought about the facts presented in the video, they seemed sensationalized, shallow, insufficient, and overly dramatized.  I kept wondering, where is everyone else, the UN, the government in Uganda?  There must be more to that story.  I also kept thinking, that movie must have taken a very long time and must have been very expensive to make...

I just checked my email and my sister sent me this link:


I read more articles referenced in it.  All of the arguments and additional information really do seem to make sense.  It is too bad.  It seems like Jason Russell did a lot of groundwork, research, etc. and that his plea was legitimate.  A lot of people will probably step forward and act.  But, will their money go to the best place?  Will the organization use it in such a way to really help solve this complicated problem?

4 comments:

scooping it up said...

I wish more people knew this. Because the awareness is awesome, but they are probably not the right organization to throw money at. Thanks for sharing.

Carrie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Liz said...

There was a really good comment here... but it's gone. I think it was brilliant, really, and wish it were still here. Basically, the author mentioned that the intentions of the video and everyone behind the making of the video are valiant and should not be disregarded simply because the means may not lead to the desirable end. Either way, they were making an attempt to do something good. I completely agree. I think (no matter what happens with this particularly story) that we should always be open to finding ways to help other people that build their lives around trying to help others. Also, Jason Russell obviously has a family and needs to make money somehow, in addition to fulfilling his promise to stop Joseph Kony (and paying for that movie - I'm sure it cost a lot to produce). While studying for my MPH, I remember discussing often the problem of society's assumption that people who work in global health, global poverty, humanitarian aid, etc. should be paid very little. I sided more on the idea that they should be paid very well - because, regardless, if they were good at finding solutions and enacting change, etc., then what they are making in the public sector is much, much less than what they could potentially make in the private sector (corporations!).

In all, I think Russell's attempt was very respectable. I think there are better solutions than the one he came up with - a good step, but not the ultimate step. I don't think making someone famous will necessarily destroy him/her. But the invitation to ask our representatives to aid other governments that are already looking for him and trying to destroy his work, yes, I thought that was a good idea. And that can be done through an email. And, it is just the beginning...

Really, I thought it was such a good comment that was deleted!

Carrie said...

Okay Okay--maybe I shouldn't have deleted it:) Sometimes comments can come off so harsh and as I read it again I was afraid it had done so. I'll try not to be so sheepish next time;) and I thank you for your open mindedness.