Letter to the Editor

Hi Miss Lopez,

 

I am writing you in response of your editorial about Kony 2012. I think you have a good point saying that we should focus on issues closer to home than far away issues like the LRA. However, after reading the editorial, I got the feeling that it was telling people to take the focus off Kony 2012 and instead help local issues. In other words, I basically felt I was being told to not do anything about it. This might not have been your intention, but this is what I want to respond to.

 

It’s true there are many different issues at home and abroad, and they are all important issues. Kony 2012 got so much attention because it was well-packaged, while other issues deserve the same attention. But the fact is they did a great job exposing the issue and I respect their success. They already got the momentum going, and the fact that the response from people is so overwhelming just proves how compassionate we all are. After I watched the film, I really wanted to help out too, which is why I donated and tweeted to celebrities and important policy makers. I think that even though there is suffering here, our brothers and sisters in Africa need more help. Which is not to say people don’t need help here; I just feel the problem over there is more urgent—it involves many lives. We human beings are all one big family, and when our brothers and sisters are suffering in other parts of the world, I just feel compelled to help. With that said, I want to take action to help the local community, too. Instead of preferring one cause to another, why not help both? I hope you understand where I’m coming from.

 

I hope more people will join in to help out in Kony 2012 and other issues.