Via Kate Bartolotta

on Jan 18, 2012

{Censored.}

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”

(Photo: Mr. Enjoy)

 (“Who will watch the watchers?”)

~ Juevenal

I am a writer; I don’t want people using my words without my permission.

I have one brother who is an indie musician and visual artist, and one who is working on making his first film. I would hate to see their work stolen or misused.

So you’d think I’d be all for SOPA and PIPA, right? Wrong.

If you don’t take time to read both bills (they are worth a read and you can do so here thanks to WSJ.) this is the most important thing for you to know:

“There are other parts of the law that say that if there are sites overseas that the Attorney General doesn’t like, the Attorney General without any other adversarial proceeding can get an order asking American internet companies to cut off that site. In essence, this law takes a page out of the playbooks of China and Iran for internet regulation.”

~ Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Internet Law; Harvard Law School.

 

It doesn’t have to be pirated material, or porn, or anything illegal. The Attorney General can–for any reason and without needing anyone’s approval–shut down any site. Does this frighten you? It scares the sh*t out of me. Where does it end? Who will watch the watchers? Do we think ourselves so weak, so ineffectual, so unable to determine what content we wish to read or view that we hand over the reins to the government to decide for us?

As world citizens desiring a mindful life it is our responsibility to speak out against unjust legislation. All the yoga videos, pictures of Adam Levine, advice on meditation and relationships don’t matter if we don’t walk our talk.

Whether you are reading this in Boulder, or Boston, or Bratislava–stand up with us against censorship.

Skip companies that would support this type of legislation, support the ones that share your concerns, and keep supporting indie media.

“It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies.”

~ Noam Chomsky

Sitting this out is not an option.

Incorrect source, offensive, or found a typo? Or do you want to write for Elephant?

Kate Bartolotta is the strongest girl in the world. She is the love child of a pirate and a roller derby queen. She hails from the second star to the right. She doesn't know how to behave with all the apples and ibexes. She doesn't suffer from her eight million freckles, she loves them! She drinks her lemonade right from the jug. Like a rolling stone, Kate gathers no moss. Kate loves kale, being barefoot, Dr. Seuss, singing too loudly, gallivanting, palindromes, blackberries, Elvis Presley, magic tricks and (of course) elephants. She has been charged with (and found guilty of) overusing the exclamation point! When she's not writing, you can find her practicing yoga, running in the woods, playing with her kids, devouring a book, planting dandelions, changing the world and doing her dishes. Kate does not play the accordion. She is on her way to becoming a fabulous massage therapist, a mediocre writer and a compassionate friend to all. This year Kate aspires to finally give up on learning to knit and will instead spend that time writing for elephant journal. Connect with Kate on Facebook and Twitter