It seems inevitable that people forget how important the freedoms we have are and their willingness to cast them aside. The latest hysteria sweeping the world is attacking free speech by trying to criminalize journalism.
Free press is an irreplaceable institution in a free society to give voice to the people who the government represents and prevent a oppresive government from propagating false information. It is a liberty that was important enough to write into the United States Constitution first above everything else.
The current frenzy over Wikileaks and the US Government's relentless pursuit to shut them down hasn't spawned the public outrage that it should among people who love and respect the freedoms we often cling to. It never ceases to amaze me the apathy that my fellow american's show when faced with a never-ending onslaught of people willing to give up their freedom to screw over someone else. It's a vengeful stance to take on your fellow-man that satisfies your need for immediate satisfaction but slowly weakens society and who's backlash can turn on its creator.
The landscape is changing fast for news media and they seem slow to respond to it. Newspapers still seemed surprised at their demise besides it being obvious to anyone with even the most basic faculties. The fear of progress seems to have dazed the press like a boxer who has taken a surprise haymaker and no matter how long the referee counts can't recover his senses. The latest round of fear mongering over technology has only highlighted the impact fear of change has had on journalism and now seems incapable of standing up for themselves and fighting fire with fire.
I would hate to think that the american press is hoping the government will intervene and save them from this horrible digital future they find themselves still blurry eyed and stammering around in. However, I can't rule out the possibility that the atmosphere of a government propping up every failing institution hasn't had an effect on even the most sacrosanct institutions in a free and open society. Yes, it is sad when an industry dies, but it isn't the end of the world and other industries step in or are created to pick up the slack.
Vice President Biden has been was quoted as calling Julian Assange "... a new kind of Digital Terrorist". This, among other similar comments by US politicians, only serves to underline a willingness to cast away the country's most basic principles to spite it's enemys. This mentality represents a continuation of the short mindedness that brought us the Patriot Act and anyone who has even the slightest belief in the freedoms guaranteed in the Bill Of Right should not only be appalled but also publicly outraged.
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