This was posted on YouTube eight months ago. It had only 200 hits when I watched it the first time. Now it has well over 3,000,000. The video wasn't a bluf. Anonymous started a worldwide campaign to expose the "Church" of Scientology by organizing protests in front of Scientology properties. The protesters wear black suits and black stockings over their heads, or Guy Fawkes masks, or some other anonymizing headgear, then promote the scandals and reveal the dark secrets of the organization.
The problem of having a movement named Anonymous, with anonymous voices and faces, is that anyone can do anything in the name of Anonymous. Their stated mission was to strip Scientology of it's tax free status. They have made headway in their endeavor. But what about the other things done in the name of Anonymous? As they say in Hollywood, any press is good press. Here is the Fox News "investigative" report on Anonymous:
Notice there was no mention of Scientology. "Be Afraid", I think was the point of the "report." If Fox had actually done an investigative and journalistic piece on Anonymous, people might be inspired. We can't have that now, can we?
Here is a BBC report on the activities of Anonymous:
Search for Anonymous on YouTube, Flickr, Yahoo, Google, etc. They are generating a lot of web traffic, or rather, they have catylized a lot of web traffic. It's noteworthy, I think. That's why I'm noting it. Here is the most recent Anonymous Video:
Anonymous has been effective in generating press coverage for the protests, thus opening old wounds and inflicting new ones that have increasingly bled money from the Scientology organization for damage control. At no expense to Anonymous. I think this is a well executed model of how to fight a large oppressive organization using truth as a weapon.
The Anonymous strategy seems reminiscent of another story.
Four years after 9/11/01, Osama Bin Laden sent a tape to the U.S. that was identical in tone. As a nation we have launched a blitzkreig against the specter of terrorists at the expense of many lives, the national economy, and our standing in the world. Osama stated that the intended target was the power structures of oppression and exploitation rooted in our nation, not the citizens of America. Anonymous has attacked Scientology, the organization, not the suckers that subscribe to it.
As far as Bin Laden goes, who knows the real story? Did Bin Laden pull off 9/11, or just take credit for it? Did the Bush administration perpetrate 9/11, or did it just become the obvious target of "Conspiracy" theorists? Is Osama Bin Laden George W's half brother? Did Osama die years ago only to have his ghost live on in manufactured propaganda?
The "9/11 Truth Movement" has been spending itself fighting the governmental ghosts. What if the source of the attack came from none of the above, an unknown element? These mysteries make for good drama on the World Stage, but humanity needs some "meddling kids" to pull the mask off of the monsters if we are going to have some resolution to the story. Spreading the story of the monster just keeps the story alive. I've heard good questions raised by the Truth Movement, but the truth seems to elude them still. There is a plethora of evidence that the Official Story of what happened on 9/11 is a bogus one, but the smoking gun, the link between the event and the actual perpetrators/architects remains elusive. Some say one becomes what one fights. America fights Terrorists. The Truth Movement fights lies and propaganda.
From an objective point of view, the tactics of the two "Jihad" story lines (Terrorists vs. USA, and Anonymous vs. Scientology) have been undeniably effective against their targets. The USA hasn't stopped terrorism. The 9/11 Truthers still haven't been able to smoke the demolition team out of their bunker. In a world where communication is global and instant, narratives with gaping cracks stuffed with lies and/or conjecture are difficult and expensive to maintain, and easy to attack. Anonymous picked a target (Scientology), elucidated the problem in compelling terms (deadly cult practices), and creatively (and economically) delivered the assault with impressive results. Concerned humans have something to learn from this example.
This blog entry is not an endorsement or criticism of anyone or anything involved in these cases. I am writing about tactics. As a Nation, we still have a kink for the traditional battlefield, but the Arena of Information hosts the key battles in the war for the future of this world. What context frames our daily discussions? Political? Environmental? National? Religious? Racial? Economical? I would like to encourage the consideration of the context of Life on Earth. I feel that this context may be over due for serious consideration in relation to our old favorites.
What are the enemies of Life on Earth? How can they be illuminated, examined, and mitigated? Something worth consideration, me thinks. The previous contexts I mentioned are worthy of discussion, and are important aspects of Life on Earth, but could be rendered moot if the lager context doesn't receive more considered air time. Standing around the kitchen arguing over who started the fire as the house burns around us isn't very helpful.
Stepping out of our limited habitual contexts of personal concerns can be terrifying, but liberating. And I think it's necessary for the preservation/restoration of sanity. There is a Big Story outside the little dramas. Here is the premise: We all live here on this planet. We are dependent on this planet and each other, for survival, and for healthy development. Entertaining and operating from that context takes you out of the little bickering dramas and puts you on the stage of the Big Story.
(Psst.. it's your line...)
PS- UPDATE
"Anonymous" on Fox tonight-Concerning Sarah Palin's email
0 comments:
Post a Comment