Supporting Burmese freedom

Posted in Miscellaneous on September 28th, 2007

I think any blogger worth his salt should make a show of support for the Nation of Burma. Now called Myanmar the nation has been ruled by a military junta since 1989. In 1990 the government held open elections and the people voted overwhelmingly for the National League for Democracy or NLD. The NLD won 392 of 489 seats. Following the election the government threw out the results and violently crushed the demonstrations that followed.

Aung San Suu Kyi the leader of the NLD has been under house arrest since forming the NLD. She won the Nobel Prize for peace in 1991 for her non-violent refusal to acquiesce to exile.

Today, Myanmar is again on the front pages of history as its people take to the streets seeking the same freedom I enjoy. I can do nothing less than show my support. I have added the flag of the NLD to the Angry Citizen site in a show of support.

I also call on all athletes who will be competing in any event within China or against or Chinese teams to consider adding the fighting peacock from that flag to their clothing as a show of support for the Burmese people.

The Angry Citizen

Civil Disobedience

Posted in Citizenship on September 20th, 2007

The time has come to just say NO!

I call on those citizens of Macon and Bibb county that are tired of the rampant Boomcars to make some noise of their own. Let us send a message to law enforcement and the politicians that pay them that we are tired of the lost sleep, disturbed quiet time in our own homes; indeed the loss of our very basic quality of life and pursuit of happiness that we as citizens are guaranteed by those documents which founded this great nation.

We must say to the government and law enforcement of Macon and Bibb county that we will no longer be held hostage due to their inaction. We must hold their feet to the fire of public opinion and demand that they enforce the laws of the State of Georgia.

I am calling for those citizens who are ready to say NO! to stand up and make yourself heard.

Beginning on October 1st 2007 I am calling on every citizen of Macon and Bibb county to send the distress signal of three short blasts
on any sound making device at any time they see any uniformed officer of either the Macon Police department of the Bibb County Sheriff’s department patrolling the streets of our community.

This is an act of civil disobedience and could result in a ticket or fine. However, the publicity that would result would likely embarrass Law Enforcement when its lack of action in stopping boomers is subjected to the glare of the media spotlight.

So join The Angry Citizen in peacefully but loudly petitioning our Government for redress of grievances.  

Freedom

Posted in Miscellaneous on June 22nd, 2007

Freedom

I was watching a show on the military channel the other day and I had an epiphany of sorts.  First I thought, war is one of the greatest drivers of innovation.  Then I thought about capitalism.  Next I mentally looked at those things which suppress innovation and I think that religion and totalitarianism are the two biggest on that front.

I now think that the two greatest driving forces  for social and technological  change and innovation are war and capitalism whereas repressive regimes and religion are the greatest hindrances.

The reasons for this are really quite simple.

  • War demands that a deadly game of keep up be played in order to prevail.
  • Capitalism rewards innovation and punishes complacency.
  • Religion worships the status quo and stigmatizes or ostracizes those who do not blindly follow the doctrine.  Religion fears free thought.
  • Totalitarianism fears its subjects and suppresses innovation as potentially harmful.

By far the worst is religious totalitarianism as it can offer no rationale for its existence but rather demands complete subjugation of individualism and innovation simply to survive.

Not really new thoughts but it’s the first time I congealed it so concisely in my mind.