Free Speech, Assholes

Nasty concept when you really think about it. Wikipedia describes it as the ability to speak without censorship. It goes further to state that the Freedom of speech is guaranteed under international law. This freedom is not always absolute but may be limited for various, obvious, reasons.

The internet was a boon to free speech since it's inception and many great men are constantly fighting the powers that be to ensure that the internet remains unregulated. This is good even though most of the net consists of pornography.

In recent years, bloggers have become a great source of information about what is happening in a particular region. Read chinese blogs to find out what is happening in China. They are actually more reliable than mainstream media. It is my personal opinion that blogging has become popular because it provides one of the last ways in which a person can speak on any issue without any fear of any sort of stigma. The anonymity just enforces it.

Voltaire once said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

A blogger is the last person I would expect to say something that he doesn't mean (On his blog). A blogger, due to his anonymity and the fact that he/she has undertaken to blog, can be expected to speak his damn mind on any issue of his/her fancy. It's the unwritten promise behind what we do. Why visit a blog that is dishonest? It just makes no sense. The moment a blogger puts up a page that is a lie, then he/she has sold out. If you can't speak your mind on a blog, then why start blogging?

That having been said, every blogger is absolutely responsible for what appears on his/her site. This responsibilty cannot be transferred, shared or diluted in any way whatsoever. If you, as a blogger, believes this, then you should always stand by what you say. Do not fear! This is the LAST place where you can speak your mind. Some people may not like what you say. So what! Not everybody loved Tolkien what makes you any different?

"The price of freedom is eternal diligence"

If you fail in being diligent, then enslavement is the consequence and your just reward. You must always look out for things that will either now or in the future stifle your freedom or you will end up like the Americans and their Patriot Act.
The same applies to bloggers. I am talking to you Kenyan bloggers out there.
Bloggers are supposed to be just about as individualistic as one can get. This is why I was so surprised by the fact that most of you decided to join that KBW thing. Don't get me wrong, trying to get young Kenyans to exchange ideas is very noble but the second someone get's kicked off for saying that Tz's president is a "dumb bitch" then KBW have crossed the line.

No doubt insulting the president of our Neighbour is a reprehensible thing but hey, as long as he thinks so then he has every right to say so. I may not agree with what he said, in fact I don't, but I am not going to stop him from saying what he thinks.
I have read some arguments that go that KBW is a private thing and as such they have rules that every member must obey. That is entirely true! But so did the Third Reich. KBW have shown that they have a 'company line' of sorts and that they will only allow certain views. This, again, is fine but you cannot then say that they allow absolute free speech and this in my opinion cuts diametrically across what I think blogging is.

If a blogger can't call Kikwete a 'dumb bitch' on his blog without KBW kicking him off, then I think you should all quit KBW in protest.

Can you tell the next thing KBW are going to be against?