– Taken from ‘Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy’

A snippet taken from a play by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, so simple, yet so true.

The internet has been the greatest invention of modern time; definitely the greatest invention of my generation. As the internet evolved through the years, a digital revolution took place and people started exploring the possibilities of this strange yet wonderful arena. “What can we do via this medium?” they asked, and they still do. This is the beauty of the internet – like the open skies, it has no bounds.

Amateur writing began in notebooks, scraps of paper lying around; some of these were protected via a lock on the book, and the loose sheets were stored at the back of a closet in an old shoe box. However, some of these pieces of writings did make it out; newspapers, magazines etc published these personalised writings which highlighted opinions within a community, fraternity or region. Blogging is an example of such an activity. With the digitization of almost all media, we are finding a greater number of online journals, personal blog and focused writing groups airing their two pence worth to whoever is willing to cast their eyes on them.

The pace at which people have embraced online writing over the last decade could not have been predicted. The strength of the words laid out sentence after sentence have had a huge impact in communities. Newspapers use our words as direct quotes when they report on events, and that in itself highlights the significance of the strength of the average Joe and their words. There is however, one single element which digital writing has failed to embrace “properly” – responsibility.

You see, there are 2 distinct sides to this coin – any and every blogger has to keep the impact, that his words may cause, in mind. Barack Obama may be one of the better orators of our time, but the words which he speaks are that of Jon Favreau. The spoken word may not be Favreau’s forte, but the measure of impact when his words are spoken demonstrates an energy which is completely off the scale. Simillarly, bloggers have the ability to deliver words which can cause a change to any network that they believe, can perform better under another leadership. This is the power of “free speech”, via the internet, through the power of the written word. The other side of the coin, belongs to the eyes which read these words. Democracy has a set definition on paper, but is implemented based on opinions. In a democracy, one has the right to have their views known, but the interpretations of powerful words can cause an amazing impact in a fragile or volatile scenario.

As in any currency, the value of the coin will exist only when it has two faces – two VALID faces on the coin. Even neutral opinions lean, albeit slightly, to one side of the argument. However, any opinion has to be made with some level of responsibility. The actions and intentions of writers has to fit some level of acceptability criteria. Ofcourse, this doesnt mean a standardised set of opinions, but it does mean transmitting opinions with an understanding of the impact which their words will cause. Simillarly, the eyes, ears and authority in which these opinions are aired need to have an open mind in terms what is being aired. A valid opinion is rarely recognised without a fight, but it is the responsibility of both the writer and the person who reads it to approach with a level of responsibility which can be acceptable to both sides.

This leaves us with 2 questions which have to be asked -
“Is there justification for the detention of the bloggers who have tried to pass a message, or raise a question on certain ‘authority’ – did they maintain the right sense of responsibility in their approach?”
“Did the ‘authority’ understand the points which were being made – have they ignored their responsibility in allowing an opinion being made in an open and free society?”

What do you think?……

I would be the cookie monster, and you can follow the trail of crumbs to “It’s as simple as putting the biscuit in the basket“.

How you can help:

• Gather your friends, family and colleagues in one location and create an art piece dedicated to the cause. Please take a look at this event taking place in Dubai for example. You may get in touch with the organizer via e-mail, to help get some ideas and suggestions for your own event.

• Follow the steps in this blog post on ways you can get involved online.

• Take a video or a photo expressing your solidarity with persecuted bloggers everywhere.

Don't judge. Free speech is for all.

Tips:

• If you’re a Twitter user, create a Twtvite for your event (see example) and start tweeting about it, tagging tweeps in your area.

• If you’re a Facebook user, create an event (see example), and start inviting your friends. In order to do this, just click on “Events” on the left sidebar and then the “create new event” button from the top of the page.

• Create a mailing list of potential participants and invite their involvement.

Need help setting up an OR318 event?

Get in touch with us! We’ll be more than happy to assist you and promote your event on our accounts.

Protests are so passe.

(Plus with the country’s stringent laws on protests, we don’t want to be stepping on anyone’s toes here.)

Everybody deserves the right to freedom of speech so long as it doesn’t turn into slander or libelous accusations.

In order to honor the death of Omid Reza, the Iranian blogger who was killed in Evin Prison under the pretense that he spread propaganda against the country, I was thinking of organising a tweetup (location to be confirmed) and arranging for a community-made art piece for the Movement on Thursday, 18 March.

The art piece would comprise of a large canvas where supporters of the movement can gather and express what freedom of speech means to them. They can use any conceivable medium – pictures, drawings, poetry, or even a plain ol’ simple “I want free speech. kthxbai” scrawled across the canvas to convey their messages.

All of us at OR318 are hoping to send the finished canvas to the same prison where Omid was killed.

Twtvite and RSVP here
Facebook event and RSVP here

If it takes off, this could very well be done globally in the coming years.

I’m still looking for a decent location, a few photographers, and a cameraman. Money and Rupert from Twitter have been kind enough to help get a location — although finding one is still proving difficult — so if anyone has suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

All photos and videos will go up on the March 18 website.

Contact me if you have any ideas:
uzma@mideastyouth.com
@Lhjunkie on Twitter