Invisible Children answers critics

[SteveJM]

Invisible Children answers critics with new Internet video
By Perry Chiaramonte & Julie DeVito
Published March 12, 2012
| FoxNews.com


The nonprofit activists behind the largest viral video campaign ever to hit the Internet answered their critics the best way they know how. They made another film.
San Diego-based Invisible Children released on Monday an eight-and-a-half-minute video entitled, “Thank you, KONY 2012 Supporters” in which charity officials attempted to answer questions regarding the group's development model, spending and the intent behind Invisible Children's campaign to bring reputed Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony to justice.

“When we launched Kony 2012, our intention was to share the story of Joseph Kony with new people around the world, but in the process, there have been a lot questions about us, so we want to be as transparent as possible and answer some of those questions right now, the organization CEO Ben Keesey says at the start of the video.
Keesey goes on to state that the group's strategy has always been to "make compelling movies" that raise awareness of the plight of Central African children and to stop the violence of Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. The movies are designed to get people's attention.
"And then once people care, once they see the movie and they start to care, we ask them to get involved,” Keesey adds.
Keesey acknowledges the reputation the charity's supporters have gotten as "slacktivists," people who take minimal measures to show support of social cause, but have little or no practical effect on the underlying issue.
“I can understand why a lot of people are wondering is this just some kind of slick, fly-by-night, slacktivist thing, when actually, it’s not at all,” said Keesey, “It’s actually a really, it’s connected to a really deep, thoughtful, very intentional and strategic campaign.”
The CEO insists all of his organization's financial data has been made public on the group's website.
"Any claims that we don’t have financial transparency or that we are not audited every year by an independent firm--that we don’t have financial integrity just aren’t true,” he says.
But even as Invisible Children was defending itself, the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, which reviews charities based on donor requests, said the organization has not been forthcoming with documents it requested.
The BBB claimed in a press release on Monday that they had sent 18 letters to the nonprofit group since 2006, and expressed concern that two of the six board members are on the staff and what they see as a lack of transparency for a charity.
Representatives for Invisible Children did not immediately return requests for comment.


Read more: Invisible Children Answers Critics With New Internet Video | Fox News

[SteveJM]

"Slacktivists" I see another addition to the dictionary if it's not already there.

We live in a time where "lite" is commonplace. We have Conversation-lite, e.g., texting and Facebook, and Church-lite, e.g., Do I really need to give an example of Church lite? Now we have Activist-lite.

Feel good about yourself because you have so many Facebook "friends."

Feel good about yourself because you're spiritual and go to "church."

Feel good about yourself because you're a social "activist."

Where is the substance, the depth, the weight?

[YeuEmMaiMai]

slick pr marketing meant to draw attention away from the fact that they are a fraud....

[billym]

"Slacktivists" I see another addition to the dictionary if it's not already there.

We live in a time where "lite" is commonplace. We have Conversation-lite, e.g., texting and Facebook, and Church-lite, e.g., Do I really need to give an example of Church lite? Now we have Activist-lite.

Feel good about yourself because you have so many Facebook "friends."

Feel good about yourself because you're spiritual and go to "church."

Feel good about yourself because you're a social "activist."

Where is the substance, the depth, the weight?

I agree. The govt does not have to force people to give them their info, they post it freely for all to see. I have no doubt that there are some Facebook pages that are being used to preach the gospel or bring families together to share or for some other good cause but I do think it may not be a good thing to post your personal info online. And when the Antichrist comes to power he can always follow people on twitter

[SteveJM]

I agree with what you're saying, billym, there is some carelessness in sharing personal information, and some Facebooks are rather good, used for a good purpose, and do have depth.

I see this story with the term Slacktivists as a continuation of a trend towards everything made safe, comfortable and easy, that gives the participant a feeling of making a difference without too much thought, sacrifice, or risk.

Am I just being too cynical? Is this part of a trend? I believe it's becoming harder to find people that are interested in or able to have a deep conversation. There's a time for small talk, but it seems like small talk is taking up the majority of peoples conversation these days. As far as Facebook goes, I've seen many times where someone will make a post that should provoke a healthy discussion, but instead is given a short one sentence or one word response, or none at all. Is it really more difficult to find people today who think deeply, who are self critical, objective, articulate, and who really exercise their brain? Maybe it's because many are burned out from information overload, or the stresses of daily living, but maybe some of it is that we've become just plain lazy.

We've moved from fast and easy food to fast and easy talk, spirituality, opinions, relationships, activism and more. Many have deluded themselves in many aspects of their lives. Our education system is dumbed down, the ability to be thorough is lacking for many, communications skills are on the decline, many have a poor understanding of what sound Biblical doctrine is or what that even means, and now we have "Slacktivists."

For many people, they let others do the thinking and the figuring. They wait until something resonates and then give a nod, a grunt, a couple of dollars, a like.

On a positive note the Kony 2012 does demonstrate that millions of people do desire justice and want to make a difference in the world. That's a very good thing. Kony no doubt is the personification of evil. The delusion is that millions see the evil of Kony, but fail to acknowledge, or they ignore, the evil they should see in the mirror. Perhaps they measure themselves against the likes of a Kony. To examine yourself and see that you're lacking, in terms of being good, is much harder to do, and much more uncomfortable.

Isn't it a bit hypocritical that some of the same people that applaud abortion rights are offended by Kony and want him stopped. They have anger for Kony which is justified, and at the same time are angered by those who are pro life.

The fact that the youth of the world can be mobilized so quickly is a good that can be used for evil. The global Facebook and other social network connections are changing the world in which we live. The goal of peace and the elimination of evil is good, but I ask myself, how does this relate to scripture? There will be in the future, more than likely the near future, an establishment of a New World Order, an anti-christ ruler, a global religion that may resemble the current United Nations, and a global monetary system. I wonder if Satan's plan, we must remember that Satan is very clever, would be to use some of his army of demonic rebels to empower/possess murderers such as Kony, mayhem makers, terrorists, dictatorships, etc., then from the same demonic army seduce, delude, and deceive others that have powerful and influential positions such as government, financial, political, entertainment, and spiritual/religious leaders. Through global organizations like the UN, Bilderbergers, CFR, and social networks such as Facebook, Satan can then bring people across the globe together to unite in order to affect change, and bring about the introduction of his ultimate plan. Using his anti-christ and false prophet with a plan for world peace, a peace that is not based on our creator, our savior Jesus Christ, but on our uniting together, on our finding common ground for the common good. The plan will be appealing to the masses, it is however a false peace.

Satan is a liar from the beginning and wants to, deceptively, be seen as an angel of light. So the game plan could be to promote evil, create global chaos, conflict, suffering, and pain, then reveal a plan, a person, a religion, that will answer the problems. It will answer the problems Satan's way which is a false good, a lie. It will be a plan that is opposed to our Creator, a plan that beneath the veneer will be evil, a plan that will call good evil and evil good.

Consider this passage from 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
(NASB)
12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

So what is our answer to Satan's plan? Make sure that we're in the Way, that we have the Truth and the Life that is found in Jesus Christ. How to obtain Salvation and Eternal Life