Creating culture

The more I go through IC's website content, the more I feel that it has nothing to do with Ugandans. Well, I should qualify that statement. Yes, it has information on their work (somewhat), although they are "following" Kony into Congo, they are helping rebuild schools, they are setting up radio towers.

But the problem is, they also have a music blog, links to their videos, photos, clothing... if I didn't know better, you'd think this is a hipster clothing company or something. It's just plain distracting!

According to our interview with Jedidiah Jenkins, IC is trying to create a new type of global citizen through IC. (I guess that means they all should be hipster teens who like indie music and dress in skinny jeans). What I think that means is that IC wants their supporters to vote intelligently, to think critically, to ask hard questions… at least that's what I think they should be encouraging them to do.

Instead, what do we see? We see a website that hardly has any of that… It's all about raising money and being cool. We see a roadie tour with flashy music and cool movies that generate an emotional response, a bubbly feel-good sensation as if we, feeling guilty for being affluent North Americans, have done something to assuage our guilt by donating to the cause, by supporting IC's good work, by speaking up for Ugandans (by not speaking this year).

Give North Americans a little credit. I think we can stomach some real information. Maybe tell us about where your money is going, whether your projects sustainable, what people think of you in Uganda (not just in Gulu), maybe admit mistakes you've made along the way -- perhaps that will show us that you're imperfect people learning as you go, not just a super slick bunch of young people who can bring the "cool" to Uganda as well. When you're recruiting people to help, stop making it just about raising money… and if they are raising money for your projects, stop giving them a chance to tour Congo or Uganda like it's some lottery! What is this new winner going to do? Go on a bus, gawking at the suffering of the real people?