Dear Anonymous.
I’ve asked people what democracy means to them, like what kind of terms has to be met in order for it to be a “democracy”. It’s a difficult question, as it is a state of mind more than a checklist. When considering the subject, it’s probably a good thing that democracy can’t be determined down to the last detail, in the long run. But there is a drawback with this, that needs to be addressed.
I’ve come to realize that the meaning of democracy as an idea has diminished in our collective consiousness, and I’ve noticed that the word has turned into more of a brand, of sorts. A signal for trust without any real, meaningful content true to the original spirit.
For instance, here in Sweden we’ve read statements from elected ministers explaining why diminished rights for citizens, protects democracy. As I gasp at this notion, few seem to consider it problematic.
Many of us try to shed light on this problem. However, when we do, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend. People seem fine with someone holding all the power, even among those that object to our current governments, as long as it’s the “right person”.
It’s semantics in a way, few wants a “benevolent dictator” when asked, but in practice this is what is happening with the westerner democracies around the world — with USA in the lead. Democracy has come to mean the state, not a state of mind. Somehow, along the way, people do not necessarily connect democracy with the quality of their civil rights anymore.
You can see this reflex online. People generally tend to give power and autonomity to someone, in the hopes that it’s going to be a better “representative”.
Which brings me to you, Anonymous. I realize I can’t speak to you as if you are one entity. I know you are all different individuals, who sometimes band together in matters that you care about. But I would like each and everyone of you to know that what you do affects me.
You both scare me and give me hope.
You have shown that you are almost as powerful as any given government. Let’s be honest, between you and the government, I’m equally screwed from a democratic stand point. The methods are chillingly similar — no transparancy, no apparant way to influence the decisions and I better not annoy the wrong guy, or there will be hell to pay.
However, lack of (functioning) democracy in governments have historically not been fought by democratic means, so to speak. You do what you have to do, with the means available for you. Just like any other historical protest movement. It would be incredibly sad if nothing was said or done, in order to fight what is going on.
I still haven’t given up on the parlamentary approach, doing the marathon of public opinionbuilding, hoping for educated decisions that nurture the idea of people having rights, to support and help build governments to represent, not rule. I work very hard at this, and will continue to do so, however small my voice is in practicality.
But right now, I am sad to say, it’s almost always a matter of who to trust; we somehow have to choose one ruler over another. As authorities to date have stretched my trust pretty thin, it’s difficult to say this.
You speak in my name when you object to matters that are important. Both me and society in general. You probably didn’t ask for it, but there you have it. I’m as affected by your doings, as I am by any government’s. Take real good care of this trust, it is very dear to me.
G+
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Jan 21, 2012 @ 16:56:46
Interesting :)
Jan 21, 2012 @ 17:11:39
Over the years my view on Anonymous have changed. And unfortunately not for the better. Firstly, their actions seem to have become more and more whimsical. But secondly, and more importantly, they appear to have come to embody the very spirit I first thougt they opposed: An arbitrary power that few or none can or dare oppose.
But I also believe that anyone executing a task under the Anonymous umbrella will probably be less inclined to do so in the future if they acquire knowledge that someone else did too, someone with a less altruistic objective. I guess you can say I believe one of Anonymous greatest assets is also their greatest flaw.
And I feel confident that the knowledge and commitment they sometimes put on display could instead be put to better use.
Feb 04, 2012 @ 17:19:59
It is one thing to want to improve democracy, and a completely different thing to blatantly attack it. http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/attack-mot-regeringens-hemsida
Jan 21, 2012 @ 17:18:34
Salute!
Jan 22, 2012 @ 01:25:07
To represent, not rule. That was very beautiful put Emma. I am going to use that whenever i get the chance.
But imagine if Anonymous would have attacked the websites of the justice dept. and the police in Iran. Would you have written this blog then? Motivate it for your self, i am not forcing you to answer. I can only speak for my self and i am much more affected by bad things coming from the USA than from Iran. It is not Iran who are getting our politicians to build a big brother surveillance state, it is not Iran that are bullying us with threats of trade sanctions and are putting nations on watch lists. OK. I am a bit selfish now, think of the people in Iran.. Well, then we have to think about them in the USA too, and i do. I really feel sorry for them, huge number of people in the USA are having a very tough time to even get food on the table as we speak, really huge numbers. USA do put people in prison without trial, USA do use death penalty, USA do use torture, and the list goes on and on.. So why the difference in view, Hollywood? Propaganda?
Though i do agree at large, take good care of my trust too. I think i would have had the same thoughts if this was s/USA/Germany/ and written around 1938.
A person close to you in the PP hierarchy once wrote something in line with: To at least have a chance to get away with crime, is a safety valve for democracy. What else would you do if you wake up and find your self in a society that resembles DDR or nazi Germany? The infrastructure and laws needed to maintain and enforce such a society, is being built today. The risk is that someone, who think they have better moral and values than everybody else, manage to finish that job. Probably motivated by their “good intentions”.
Plato was right you know, the tyrant do rise out of democracy as a protector, if not the safeguards are kept intact, and he is put in place by the irresponsible career apparatniks who just want to obey orders and not take responsibility for their own actions, Safeguards that is being torn down today.
Jan 22, 2012 @ 12:38:26
Yes I have sort of thought about it, actually! :D I could’ve sworn I hade written something about it earlier, but, I guess it stayed on a notepad.
I think you have a point, your take on it is interesting. What I have considered is that it’s so easy to feel “yeah, way to go” when it regards countries that we, in our westerner minds, consider to be dictatorships. Of course it’s much easier to unanimously support any sort of actions taken against some country all has grown to agree are not up to our standard. The problem has never been, I think, to see where other cultures go wrong, it’s more a matter of recognizing that we are actually emulating the bad to a greater degree than we realize in society.
(Btw; It’s kind of fun to “trace” my thought process surrounding issues by reading back on what I’ve written before. For instance I found this where a bit of the reasoning can be seen.)
Jan 22, 2012 @ 13:58:49
In a couple of my longer comments i have also thought about the reasoning in another context, like this one (in swedish). How cheating and fooling the authority naturally becomes something socially accepted when living in an unjust society, and at the same time become gray and trying to live under the radar when you know there is surveillance. Just ss it was in the east behind the iron curtain. It is a very natural consequence that people become more gray, abdicate responsibility and only do what they are told, officially. The incentive to take responsibility declines the more surveillance there is. People seem to forget that the classic excuse to weasel out of responsibility is the phrase “But i only did what i was told to do..”. When we know that the authority is overlooking what we do, we will only do what we are told, nothing else since that can rise uncomfortable questions and _force_ unjust responsibility upon us.
This is a development we see more and more today, this is why more and more ordinary people are cheering when someone attacks the authority openly, they become heroes. Heroes do not obey orders, on the contrary, and they do take a responsibility upon them self that can have grave consequences if they get caught.
Jan 22, 2012 @ 18:12:42
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” – T. Jefferson.
Jan 23, 2012 @ 13:18:58
I see no problems in the way Anonymous works, and I support their actions wholeheartedly. I have not given up trying to find a political solution, even though I’m convinced that it’s too far gone for that to be workable, so while I think that we must be committed to a political solution, we must also hold other options open and ready. We are daily faced by an increasing use of power by the authorities, and we need to be able to match and surpass their strength, and we need them to know that we can do it. Anonymous provides us with such leverage.
Even from a democracy viewpoint, Anonymous are without problem. Swedish constitution states that all power should come from the people. Not some power. Not power that’s convenient for the government. Not power that no one finds objectionable. All power. That means that no action by a member of the people, and even more so if it’s a group, should be objected to by the government. Anonymous can not be undemocratic, as they are of the people. Either way, the concept of democracy only handles acts of repression from the government.
Anonymous is doing a lot for us, and they are putting themselves in the firing line to do so. They should get respect for that. Moreover, we need them, because without them, we’ll be unable to get the kind of offensive strength that we’ll need in the upcoming years. They also show that we are a force to be reckoned with, that we need to be taken serious and that the big political players need to start talking with us instead of talking down to us.
I would also like to repudiate the claims that there is no way to get insight into the work of Anonymous or to influence them. It’s well known where they hang out and where they discuss their work. Go there and take part of the discussion.
Anonymous, you are true heroes and we depend on you to provide us with the power base needed to make our point. Keep it up. Even better, ramp it up! We know that you do not forget, so there is no need to ask you to remember out immense respect for you and your work. While our need of you is huge, we still rest easily, because we know we can expect you.
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