The Invisible Children propaganda.

 After reading so many people outraged on Facebook over the kony 2012 fad, everyone should know what I am about to blog about. I understand Joseph Kony is a horrible person who has done repulsive things. I do believe he should be stopped and I will pray for these children. However, the Invisible Children will NOT be getting my $ for a useless starter kit so I can "paint the town red" Let me tell you why, the activist group Invisible Children are alleged to be a non-profit organization. So far they have released a total of 11 films, most with these bracelets all interchanging colors. This films (KONY 2012) was red. If you look at the finances of this organization (which are public) last year the organization spent $8,676,614. A total of 31% of this actually went to direct services. Can you think of where the rest went? Staff salaries, travel and film production. You paid for this "documentary" so they can make more money.. to make another movie. Charity Navigator rates their accountability 2/4 stars because they lack an audit committee. Therefore, they don't keep up with their finances well enough. It gets better. The group is in favor of direct military intervention, and the $ supports the Ugandan governments army. This army has been reported to rape and loot. None the less, Kony IS a bad guy but he has been around for years! This is why the U.S has already been involved in stopping him since Oct 2011.The issue is this man is using children as his body guards, any effort to capture or kill him will result in the lives of innocent children. Is the awareness efforts good? YES! Unfortunately these problems are highly complex, not one-dimensional and, fankly, aren't of the nature that can be solved by posting, film-making and changing your Facebook profile picture. As hard as that is to swallow ( and it will be for most of you). Giving your money and support to the Invisible Children so they can spend it on supporting ill-advised violent intervention and movie #12 isn't going to help those children. I do not have a better solution but that doesn't mean you should support KONY 2012 just because its something. When the euphoria evaporates and the Facebookers have dried their tears (probably by the end of this week), all that remains will be yet another powerful myth of African corruption.Your hearts are all in the right place but charity starts in your own communities. Families are suffering and you'd be better served giving the $ to your local church, shelter, of food pantry.