You are completely missing the point of my aforementioned comment.
The point is, this entire campaign is indeed a waste of time.
Nothing anyone posts and hashtags about is going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
Countries sending in troops and resources will make a difference. The Nigerian community standing together against the Boko Haram might make a difference, but a bunch of South African’s protesting by making cute little posters outside their schools does nothing.
I am not sure if you have seen the recent video of a bunch of Johannesburg schools all supporting the #BringBackOurGirls campaign?
It is completely self-indulgent, useless and quite frankly, it is ‘slacktivism’ as another Facebook user termed it.
All these children are doing is participating in one of the best PR campaigns for northern suburb schools I have seen in a very long time.
Wouldn’t you want your child to go to a school that has such wonderful humanitarian initiatives?
I know St Mary’s well, and what they do well is things such as blanket drives which really do make a difference to the people who need it the most.
I am sure the same can be said for the other schools involved in the video, along with most Joburg schools who try and teach children to have empathy for those less fortunate than themselves.
I am not solely attacking St Mary’s – I am attacking the entire thought process behind these popular causes that people feel obliged to follow, to look good to a bunch of ‘friends’ on Facebook who probably know very little about them.
Think about the #nomakeupselfie campaign that was not sanctioned by any cancer foundation. Women were posting photos of themselves in support of cancer awareness, making sure to look as good as possible – often with makeup on – so that their ‘friends’ would comment with things such as ‘Oh my goodness you look so beautiful without makeup on’ or ‘wow, I support this cause too’.
It is false. Why not rather support cancer by going for a mammogram, or by, like what ended up happening when people realised the futility of the campaign, donating to a cancer research fund.
If you want to stand in solace with a cancer patient, cut all of your hair off and post that picture on Facebook. Preferably with your hair made into a wig.
The same can be said for these local schoolgirls. Send these children to a Mosque to learn about Islam. I am sure there a lot of misconceptions out there at the moment.
People need to realise that the Boko Haram are extremists and are not an accurate reflection of the faith.
Get a collection going across the country for aid that can be sent to the families of the Nigerian girls to support them, while the international community try to find their daughters.
So once again, I stand resolute in my belief that this campaign is futile, self-indulgent and ignorant.
It’s teaching our children that it is okay to participate in a cause that won’t make a real difference, rather than making a real impact on the lives of people who desperately need it.
Before you want to call me ignorant, misinformed and heartless, take a step back and ask yourself if you were in a similar situation would you want the international community posting and trending about you, or would you rather they actually do something.
#DoingSomething we are teaching our kids that it is alright to support a cause if we are seen doing it, and are therefore seen as good people, regardless of whether or not we actually contribute to it.
