I am a criminal - and you may be too

We may both be criminals. But not in any ordinary sense. You see, neither you nor I have maimed or killed anyone. We have not embezzled, defrauded, or stolen anything from anyone. We have not spied nor supported 'terrorism'. We have not done anything of that nature. But according to the following, we are criminals.

The World's Worst Internet Laws Sneaking Through the Senate
August 03, 2006

[Update: The Cybercrime Treaty was ratified by the Senate late last night. The U.S. will now have to comply to requests for assistance from fifteen countries, and growing.]

The Convention on Cybercrime is a sweeping treaty that has been waiting in the wings of the Senate for nearly three years. Now the administration is putting pressure on the Senate to ratify it in the next two days. If it does, it would mean the U.S. would enforce not just our own, but the rest of the world's bad Net laws. Call your Senator now, and ask them to hold its ratification.

The treaty requires that the U.S. government help enforce other countries' "cybercrime" laws - even if the act being prosecuted is not illegal in the United States. That means that countries that have laws limiting free speech on the Net could oblige the F.B.I. to uncover the identities of anonymous U.S. critics, or monitor their communications on behalf of foreign governments. American ISPs would be obliged to obey other jurisdiction's requests to log their users’ behavior without due process, or compensation.

Before long, thoughts will be a crime. Ideas put down on paper or in 'blogs' will be 'lethal weapons'. With this legislation, they will hunt down ANYONE who dissents from their goals. The same laws that were used to imprison Zundel will be used to gather information and prosecute you and I for speaking out against what we believe to be unjust, corrupt, and wrong. By ratifying this treaty, 'free speech' will be limited not only to 'areas' but to those that subscribe to the party line.

I might as well start denying now. I am NOT a 'holocaust denier.' I admit that a 'holocaust' did take place, but the facts have been repressed, obfuscated and blurred intentionally. I am not a 'white supremacist' or 'neo-nazi'. I am not racist or a bigot. I am not an 'anti-Semite' nor do I agree with the radical policies of extremists. I am not a member of the 'christian zionist' mainstream church and I don't hold their beliefs.

I DO believe in freedom.

Freedom from oppression, freedom from oppressors.

Freedom to tell and hear the truth and to EXPECT it from others.

Freedom to speak out against things that are wrong and destructive.

Freedom from hate, racism, and morally corrupt people.

Freedom to enjoy life and not live in fear of one's government.

Freedom to speak up for those who are in need of a voice.

Freedom. Unbound, uncensored, unimpeded. Freedom.

I am a criminal, but not just any ordinary criminal. I am a criminal because I think and write in opposition to those that wield power over us. I am a criminal because I am not afraid of them and cannot be conformed into one of their supporters. I am a criminal because I stand against an administration that says"You are either with us or you are with the 'terrorists'" and then proceeds to conduct themselves with such ruthlessness that they make the whole world blush with shame.

What can be said of our society and culture when dissent to corrupt practices is no longer allowed? What has 'democracy and freedom' devolved to when people are classified and investigated based solely on their thoughts and the content of their writings?

Apparently, I am a criminal because I speak the truth. How about you?