My piece on Kony 2012 for Online Opinion. I thought I was so clever coming up with the title, but it seems a few people beat me to it…

When I wrote my novel Virus, I invented a corrupt Ugandan government leader, a rogue NGO and a web of conceit, deceptions, untruths and PR spin that revolved right up to, and inside, the White House. Little did I know that actual events would so closely mirror broad aspects of my fictional story. The “Kony 2012” documentary/advertisement says a lot about how ideas work, how misconceptions get established and how a seemingly good idea can carry enough poison to infect the very people it is trying to help. But, most of all, it says a lot about us. And it isn’t a pleasant view…(more)

On this, see also:

* Great rap critique by Hyperaptive

* Oped in the HuffPo by respected Africa commentator Michael Deibert

* Recent report of negative reaction when the video was shown to Ugandans in N.Uganda

* Background on Invisible Children

* DataGraphic from the Guardian