I'll never back down!
Not that it's likely to happen, but I'm writing this particular entry to strengthen my willpower on this decision:
I would like everyone to know that if I am threatened with incarceration for speaking out against injustice and corruption, it will be worth giving up everything I value about my own life to defy my enemies. This blog, Monster Collection Chronicles, Parasitic Trio, Retro Savior, the Makendou dubbing project, my relationships with Jake and Chelle, etc. (Though I will ask my family to petition for my release.) If I'm forced into hard labor, if my life or any part of my body is threatened, if anyone take to torturing me in any way possible, or if authorities even resort to harming my family (in which case I will seek justice or vengeance for them later), I will still make sure that people know the truth, and those that wrongfully harm others are held responsible.
So, what brings this up? Well, since two nights ago, I found out about a scandal in Omaha, Nebraska, from 20 years ago, which involved exploiting children for prostitution and drug trafficking. High-ranking officials in the federal government were involved in this, and measures were taken to prevent the public from knowing about it all, including harassment by the FBI of at least one victim, Andre Paine, for telling what went on. One victim, Alicia Owens, was imprisoned for 20 years for naming at least one of her persecutors. Another person was warned about this, and told to plead the 5th when the judge asked him to name more perpetrators. Unfortunately, that's what he did, reasoning that he couldn't go to jail. A documentary about this was supposed to air on May, 1994, but was canceled at the demand of a powerful congressman, who then demanded all copies destroyed.
That's right! Some corrupt politician blatantly violated the 1st amendment, demanded that the Discovery Channel refrain from using it for the very purpose that it was meant for, and backed this demand up with the threat of tight regulations on TV networks. Fortunately, one (low-quality) copy was anonymously given to Nebraska representative John DeCamp, and while it was posted on YouTube only last month, it had raked in more than 3,000 hits in just this past month.
I only wish that was me being told not to rat on anyone, or being told at the last minute not to air such an important documentary, in which cases I would have anyway. But, I'll do what I can do right now, and host a link to the program for yet more people to see:
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-franklin-cover-up/
(Above is the full version; the version on YouTube is only half the length.)
For the record, I wouldn't blame anyone for keeping quiet about corruption for the sake of their freedom. However, look at Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years for rebelling against apartheid in South Africa. Even though he had resorted to violence at some point before then, he clearly believed that human rights are more important than personal freedom, and the fact that he even chose to remain in prison when given the opportunity to be free at the cost of being allowed to challenge the government makes this especially clear.
I would like everyone to know that if I am threatened with incarceration for speaking out against injustice and corruption, it will be worth giving up everything I value about my own life to defy my enemies. This blog, Monster Collection Chronicles, Parasitic Trio, Retro Savior, the Makendou dubbing project, my relationships with Jake and Chelle, etc. (Though I will ask my family to petition for my release.) If I'm forced into hard labor, if my life or any part of my body is threatened, if anyone take to torturing me in any way possible, or if authorities even resort to harming my family (in which case I will seek justice or vengeance for them later), I will still make sure that people know the truth, and those that wrongfully harm others are held responsible.
So, what brings this up? Well, since two nights ago, I found out about a scandal in Omaha, Nebraska, from 20 years ago, which involved exploiting children for prostitution and drug trafficking. High-ranking officials in the federal government were involved in this, and measures were taken to prevent the public from knowing about it all, including harassment by the FBI of at least one victim, Andre Paine, for telling what went on. One victim, Alicia Owens, was imprisoned for 20 years for naming at least one of her persecutors. Another person was warned about this, and told to plead the 5th when the judge asked him to name more perpetrators. Unfortunately, that's what he did, reasoning that he couldn't go to jail. A documentary about this was supposed to air on May, 1994, but was canceled at the demand of a powerful congressman, who then demanded all copies destroyed.
That's right! Some corrupt politician blatantly violated the 1st amendment, demanded that the Discovery Channel refrain from using it for the very purpose that it was meant for, and backed this demand up with the threat of tight regulations on TV networks. Fortunately, one (low-quality) copy was anonymously given to Nebraska representative John DeCamp, and while it was posted on YouTube only last month, it had raked in more than 3,000 hits in just this past month.
I only wish that was me being told not to rat on anyone, or being told at the last minute not to air such an important documentary, in which cases I would have anyway. But, I'll do what I can do right now, and host a link to the program for yet more people to see:
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-franklin-cover-up/
(Above is the full version; the version on YouTube is only half the length.)
For the record, I wouldn't blame anyone for keeping quiet about corruption for the sake of their freedom. However, look at Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years for rebelling against apartheid in South Africa. Even though he had resorted to violence at some point before then, he clearly believed that human rights are more important than personal freedom, and the fact that he even chose to remain in prison when given the opportunity to be free at the cost of being allowed to challenge the government makes this especially clear.