Part of the series God: From Magic to Motivation

“I am personally asking everyone who cares about freedom and openness on the Internet to contact their Senators and Representative. One of the things we have learned recently during the Arab Spring events is that the Internet is a powerfully effective tool for the public to organize and have their voices heard.” ~ Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia as quoted by cbc.ca

The community of Wikipedia has decided to shut down the English portion of their site for 24 hours in order to add their voice against The American legislation of SOPA and PIPA.

I think Jimmy Wales picked the perfect example in mentioning the Arab Spring. Once again the old fathers of culture are trying to control new technology and make it work for the old ways. But the change has already happened. Attempts at containing it demonstrate a vain denial of the new reality in which we live.

Oh My God, am I here all alone?
Because something is happening here,
But you don’t know what it is.
Do you, Mister Jones?
~ Ballad of a Thin Man by Bob Dylan

What do you think?

Will 24 hours of a wikipedia “blackout” be an effective protest or message to politicians?

Will SOPA pass anyway?

Will it protect America’s interests against the threat of international piracy?