Well, I've brought my website back online, now that SOPA and PIPA have been shelved. I have to say how impressed I was to see the incredible reaction from the internet community, with much thanks owed to big names like Anonymous, Wikipedia, Reddit, Google, and many others, who helped spread the word. Ultimately, it can never be said that the internet community, regardless of political affiliation, can't band together to protect our freedoms. What an amazing event it was, on Wednesday, to see the overwhelming reaction of the US citizens - and the world over - who raised unprecendented opposition to these bills.
This sort of intense public response, which gathered all of its support from an online grassroots effort, with zero help from television news companies, has never been witnessed before. It likely heralds in an entirely new country, in which your stealthed opposition is not ignorant. The online masses are not slave to whatever the News tells them. The online community, with nearly unlimited resources of knowledge and communication, is no longer on the sidelines of political backroom schemes. The world is now actively engaged in what happens, and are considerably more difficult to fool. I hope this brings about the political changes needed, where politicians are held accountable for their bribe induced legislation.
Large wealthy corporations can no longer scheme their way into our lives, not with the internet watching. And it is exactly this sort of accountability that SOPA and PIPA would have jeopardized. Maybe not intially, and maybe not intentionally, but it certainly would have opened the door to anyone with money and an agenda.
The SOPA and PIPA war isn't over. The bills were shelved, but they are not dead. They will return, as they have in the past. We will be ready.
If you created content, and think that 'controlling' the internet is the solution to your losses, think again. You need to find another method to lock down your goods, or grow some nuts and evolve into an open source environment - which IS the future of 'everything' - A world where we share everything without criminalizing those who enjoy the fruits of your labor. A future where you get enjoyment and pride from what you've done without demanding or expecting payment or reward - since you too get the same in return from everything you freely benefit from. Free for all. Share with all. Smile. Evolve! THAT is your reward. Just think, you might also be rewarded financially, from just the kindess of the people who also see the value of an open-source world. "What do you mean, give it away!?!" - Yes, that's exactly what I mean. You'll be an instant hero, and the money will come anyway - it always does.
By the way, Lamar Smith must realize he has zero chance of re-election, right?
I do find it odd though, that the online US citizen don't unite to stop other atrocities, like indefinite detention. We need another effort for that. On the other hand, we don't have big online names that feel affected by things like indefinite detenion, without due process, of US citizens. Thus, we're missing strong organizers.
< end wishful thinking rant >