Fed Up Army Ranger’s Stark Response to #BringBackOurGirls Shows the Vanity of ‘Hashtag Activism’

 

I saw this posted on Facebook. Although I'm not a follower of the website in the link, nor do I necessarily go for the "gung-ho" attitude all the time, I DO definitely agree about the perspective on "hashtag internet activism".

 

 

 

Totally agree. I've been seeing all these celebrity pics with the same hashtag sign. As if a radical in Nigeria knows who John Legend is and cares about his concerns on the matter.

I do think that celebreties, and even normal people, using social media to bring attention to an issue or cause is perfectly acceptable. No one is saying that the social media activism will perform the action. But what it does do, is bring an issue to the forefront and often keep it there.

 

Does the soldier object to all the "bring our troops home" signs/hashtags I see?

My problem is more to do with the idea of a celebrity not doing MORE with their voice. Here you have Michelle Obama, married to one of the most powerful men in the world, making a sad pouty-face while she holds up a hand-written 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper that says "#BringBackOurGirls".

 

That's not my idea of a great campaign. That's not using the voice of the spouse of the President of the United States of America. That's just pop culture.

My problem is more to do with the idea of a celebrity not doing MORE with their voice. Here you have Michelle Obama, married to one of the most powerful men in the world, making a sad pouty-face while she holds up a hand-written 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper that says "#BringBackOurGirls".

 

That's not my idea of a great campaign. That's not using the voice of the spouse of the President of the United States of America. That's just pop culture.

 

Well, I agree they should do more, and I'd be completely on board with what you say, except look at the BGP archives and see what the discussions were about Sean Penn's efforts in Haiti, for example. Let's just say, for a Cliff Notes version, a lot of people just want their celebreties to be seen and not heard, and if they put their money where their mouths are, they're accused of being attention hogs. Celebs can't win.

Well, I agree they should do more, and I'd be completely on board with what you say, except look at the BGP archives and see what the discussions were about Sean Penn's efforts in Haiti, for example. Let's just say, for a Cliff Notes version, a lot of people just want their celebreties to be seen and not heard, and if they put their money where their mouths are, they're accused of being attention hogs. Celebs can't win.

 

That may be true about Sean Penn, and although I questioned his motives in Haiti initially (quite honestly, I'm not sure whether or not I was actually involved in the discussion on BGP about that whole situation), I've definitely come around to see that he really is putting forth his best effort in a very solid humanitarian outreach.

Don't understand how this could possibly bother anyone.

 

NOBODY was talking about Boko Haram before this incident with the girls and they've been wreaking havoc in Nigeria for years. Anything that brings attention to the ongoing nightmares across huge swaths of the African continent is a good thing in my book.

 

I'll agree with the notion that internet activism is a lazy form of activism... but it's a start.

Don't understand how this could possibly bother anyone.

 

NOBODY was talking about Boko Haram before this incident with the girls and they've been wreaking havoc in Nigeria for years. Anything that brings attention to the ongoing nightmares across huge swaths of the African continent is a good thing in my book.

 

I'll agree with the notion that internet activism is a lazy form of activism... but it's a start.

 

Maybe if Hillary had deemed them to be on the terrorist list they may have got more attention. Another failure with Obama Adm and Clinton

Don't understand how this could possibly bother anyone.

 

NOBODY was talking about Boko Haram before this incident with the girls and they've been wreaking havoc in Nigeria for years. Anything that brings attention to the ongoing nightmares across huge swaths of the African continent is a good thing in my book.

 

I'll agree with the notion that internet activism is a lazy form of activism... but it's a start.

 

That's not true. I was just listening to "A Whiter Shade of Pale" the other night! :idunno:

That's not true. I was just listening to "A Whiter Shade of Pale" the other night! :idunno:

 

"Conquistador" might be more appropriate.

This shows a lack of respect by this guy.

 

Would he do that if a General's wife did "hashtag activism?" His lieutenant's wife?

Basically, he mocked his boss's wife and put it on the internet. Bad move.

It's called freedom of speech, something you all get on here and mention all the time when defending stuff.

 

Disrespect, how can any military guy respect the President. He never served in any form of military, has the VA scandal going on, cut the military budget to DEATH, fires Generals, lied about Bengazhi, took God out of the military, took credit for killing bin laden when it was the Seals, NSA snooping on people, should I go on.

The 1st lady is one of thousands (if not millions) who have used this hashtag. I did not see this as a direct call out of the First Lady; instead, I see this as a more general statement.

 

I know people want to make this a bigger deal than it is, but did he specifically call out Mrs. Obama?

The 1st lady is one of thousands (if not millions) who have used this hashtag. I did not see this as a direct call out of the First Lady; instead, I see this as a more general statement.

 

I know people want to make this a bigger deal than it is, but did he specifically call out Mrs. Obama?

 

Fair question. I made an assumption that I'm willing to bet is right that it was aimed at Mrs Obama since she is the most famous tweeter of the hashtag.