I know...because you want to hear more about Kony

http://m.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/the-white-savior-industrial-complex/254843/

So by now we've all heard/seen this Kony video and the uproar it caused. Is Kony bad? Yes. Does the video do much besides advocacy? I say no, but it's debatable. Not to sound like a big old cynic, but I just didn't see what the big deal with this video was. I've known about Invisible Children for a few years now as well as Kony. Anyone who actively keeps up with world news would know who he is. So for all of you folks who follow/enjoy my New York Times posts take heed- you might actually be getting something out of it! Should there be justice? Of course. Anyone who is criticizing this video, the charity, etc is not ok with Kony or anything he does or did in the past.

Teju Cole didn't care for it. He's a New York writer, every now and then you'll see his stuff in the New York Times and the New Yorker. After this whole Kony blow up, he posted 7 Tweets that are quite interesting to check out in the link. He brings up the issue of white priveledge and the white savior. They are good points to bring up, but hard to talk about, since most people don't think they're racist. As a white person, while I know that I don't actively promote racism or support it in any way, I am racist. I benefit from a society where being white is better. I remember an amazing training I had while I was in AmeriCorps and what they told us in a nutshell: white people in the U.S. are, in some way in the life, racist. We may not know it, but it's there. And the best thing we can do is to actively fight for "the other team" to combat the way our society operates.

We have had this vicious cycle/relationship with the African continent for centuries. At first we enslaved them. Then we had them loyal to our governments, or if they formed their own governments- the leaders needed to be Europe/American friendly. We pushed our religion, our culture and our ideals on people whether they liked it or not. We exploited their people and their land for natural resources. So I can see why a Nigerian American writer is frustrated that people think giving money to Kony and getting a bracelet and posting on their Facebook/Twitter is the golden ticket to solving Africa's problems. Cole is right when he says "Feverish worry over that awful African warlord. But close to 1.5 million Iraqis died from an American war of choice. Worry about that."- he's not saying Kony is bad, but he is saying that Americans bring this upon ourselves- these countries are so reliant on the outside world to the point where it's very easy for somehow like Kony to get power- the people are so beaten down, uneducated and apathetic they don't know what else to do. We cause these problems, and then they get so bad and we're shocked, disgusted! Saddam Huessein is awful. But we didn't always think so- we contributed to the problem in so many ways.

So, now that I've incited a race war and hated on soldiers (because talking this like will get me labeled as such, even if I am the daughter of a veteran)- thoughts?

House Schmouse

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/02/the-end-of-ownership-why-arent-young-people-buying-more-houses/253750/

Article from The Atlantic- why don't young people want to buy homes? Because they'll suck the life out of us! Well, not really...unless the house was built on top of an Indian burial ground. Then you're screwed.

Many of us young folks (pretty soon I won't be able to call myself that...) are struggling with developing a new view of our world. We grew up seeing/hearing/etc that being successful meant owning a home. But today, I think I'd rather rent and save for retirement and pay off my debts before I think about that. We've seen an economy tank- so of course we will be cautious. We can't find decent jobs that will last a lifetime (honestly, I can probably count on 2 hands how many people I think will stay in the job they have now for the rest of their lives). I feel like I'm hustlin' through life- just trying to find something so I can get by.

I guess I look at the prospect of owning a home and all the money it takes to do so, and it doesn't excite me as much as it "should". I have anxiety attacks thinking about my student loans- handling those with a mortgage? Uh...no.

But once/if the economy bounces back, will we just fall back into the old routines, the old ways? Or is there a fundamental culture shift going on right now that is causing many young people to re-evaluate the importance of home ownership? Is there shame in renting for much of your life? Is there shame in raising a family while renting? I think these are questions many young people are trying to answer.

Oh Russia...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/world/europe/observers-detail-flaws-in-russian-election.html?_r=1&ref=world

Seriously, sometimes I wonder why we bother with Russia. And don't get me wrong- I'm very fascinated by the country, it's history, it's culture, etc. But they're regressing. And what better way to do it than by electing Mr. Bear himself, Vladimir Putin? I just don't know how much that country wants democracy the way the Western world does...it's not for everyone. But obviously it's not working there. People are unhappy, starving and of course there's Chechnya.