And now for something just a little different from recent posts about education, eco-friendly technologies, and the aggravation that is Hillary Clinton... This is a little odd, in my mind:
There is apparently an organization called "Anonymous" that protests Scientology. Now, from the little bit I've been learning, it's not in the least bit odd that one would protest Scientology (although as usual I'm left wondering: Couldn't we just cut to the chase and protest religions and cults in general? But I digress...), but I admit I'm finding it odd that Anonymous presents itself in a little bit of a... hhhmm... cultish manner.
I worry that it's awfully easy for some people to want to belong to something, and that when they jump ship from something as apparently icky as Scientology... they're awfully tempted to just sign up for something new, which seems counterproductive to me.
Why can't we raise more people that just want to be themselves? Themselves could be pretty cool, you know.
But there, these last few paragraphs will now have pissed off absolutely everybody, yay! (I just don't understand religion I just don't understand I don't... ~sigh~)
ANYWAY, despite that little ick-factor, I think Anonymous is kinda neat. Cathleen posted a link to a post about their upcoming worldwide protest (June 14), with accompanying video. Will there, I wonder, come a day when homemade videos on the Web used for organizational/advertising purposes have to actually recognize the copyright on things like James Horner's terrific Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack? Stay tuned, but DO NOT hold your breath.
But the real reason I, of all people, am posting the same link is... CHECK OUT THE VERY NICE FLAG DESIGNS! I mean, it's a great logo to begin with (though I sense it has perhaps had a good upgrade fairly recently), and then it works so well on some of the country flags. Nice design job, I must say.
And for my last "ponder" of the morning... Isn't there something odd about calling oneself Anonymous and then designing a logo that can be recognized everywhere? Hmm...
Arrrgh!
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3 comments:
Well, you're asking some really good questions and thanks for the linky-love. I don't find Anonymous to be at all cultish (although they certainly DO go in for their own language, which I find fun, amusing and a bit difficult to follow at times). And as far as "individuals" are concerned, the group known as Anonymous is nothing if not individualistic. They would be appalled at anyone in their loose-knit organization refusing to voice an opinion. They are wonderful and funny and passionate and I believe the world would be a better place if more people learned from the best of Anonymous. (I know they sprang from a pretty nasty online origin, but it's very important to separate current $cientology-fighting Anons with their 4chan counterparts.) If you've seen V for Vendetta, you have some idea of their true leanings -- fight injustice and human rights violations.
Great flags for reals.
Remember, long cat is loooong.
Thanks for writing about this. Every little bit helps. As is obvious, I would truly love to see the Co$ forced to release prisoners, cancel disconnection, lose their tax-exempt status, do away with "fair game" and so on. Until then, we'll keep marching and waving our flags.
I'm a child of the 60s and it was true then and it's true now: If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Get out there and protest or write letters or start a newsgroup or get a petition going. The world needs help and $cientology is NOT the answer.
ok tl;dr Anons rock
Oh, and there's nothing wrong with being a member of a group of people who have similar ideas and enjoy similar things -- bowling leagues, reading circles, etc. Groups are not inherently bad and they're certainly not cults in and of themselves. Leaving $cientology is very healthy. So is speaking out against it after years of trying to get people into it. Many groups, in fact most that I've been a part of, encourage individuals to be "themselveses."
It is a small detail. Anonymous isn't a definite group. One can no more be a member of Anonymous than one can be a member of the crowd on the street at noon in New York City.
It is in the interest of the common purpose with which Anonymous acts. Identity gets in the way of fulfilling that purpose. One becomes susceptible to coercion with identity. On that note, identity gets in the way of being yourself.
We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget.
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