We are Legion

We are Anonymous

“Knowledge is free. We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us. (Church0fScientology)”

Anonymous is a worldwide collective of like-minded individuals around the world, for the transparency of government and fair rule of law. They stage cyber attacks on groups they view as a violation of basic human rights by the government or any corporation. Recent attacks have circled around the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act, Stop Online Piracy Act, and violations of human rights by the Church of Scientology (known as Project Chanology). They’re classified as a terrorist by many of the worlds governments for their attacks and release of information, along with many of their controversial stances, like their support of the website wikileaks which has leaked classified information from all the worlds governments.
The world woke up to a rude awakening because of this hacktivist group on the morning of January 21^st, 2008. What seemed to be a no big deal issue to anyone showed to be of great importance. Terrorist group Anonymous has called out its first victim. However was this a victim, or rather a target by an activist group? Victim implies a sense of mercy from on lookers. However target fits this format better, for something terrible was being brought to light. The leaking of scientology propaganda into the world brought new questions. Lies and deceit from this church have caused countless infractions against basic human rights (whyweprotest.net/anonymous).  Now the streets, while eerily quiet hold scars of a quiet struggle. Local chapters of the church are now defaced and citizens in mask walk the streets, eager to expose the scientologists for what they have been doing behind closed doors. Such infractions on human rights include free speech violations, suspicious deaths, torture, human trafficking and harassment and extortion of anyone who challenges their beliefs.

Project Chanology has begun. While the group Anonymous wants to make them seem as secular as possible, they state their reasons for this feud with the church to be a crusade for the rights of humans the church has taken away or disregarded. The crusade against a religion that only seeks to use its tax exemption status to violate human rights has gone in full swing. Who is anonymous? What do they do? Why would anyone want to be part of such a terrorist group?

The question is better answered as that they are not a body. They are not a group in the physical means. Rather, they are group of everyday people who are upset with things in the world. They are not a terrorist group, rather an activist group from grass roots who are for a pro-transparency approach to the world. They are only considered a terrorist group by their enemies, while they stay within the legal confines of the law for information dissemination and protest. They are a humanitarian group, not so much a terrorist group. (whyweprotest.net)

                  On February 10, 2008 the protests began in Los Angeles. The world would finally see anonymous was more than a group of rebel rousing group of kids who played internet pranks. They now stand for something. But the church fought back. They followed home the masked protesters, slashed the tires on the car and various other actions. Anonymous finally waged for the first time publically.(http://exscientologykids.com/anonymous.html)

Many might say this isn’t my problem, what can scientology and anonymous have to do with me. That a religion that someone submits himself or herself too is actually causing basic civil liberties and civil rights to be with held from people, how is that my fault? Now what if it was the country you are being raised in that committed these infractions. I wish to show that this does affect you, and every single American citizen. Anonymous firmly believes that knowledge is free and that the government is for the people. That people should be informed, make their own decisions, and call out the government for when it falters and fails to uphold its promise to American citizens. This is where the beginning of the war between anonymous and the United States government begins. Are they terrorists for doing what the founding father believed? "When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." (Thomas Jefferson). (AnonSynonomous)

                  So now you are given an option, to start asking questions about your own government and do your research to become an informed citizen or to live in ignorance and hope everything works out. If you don’t speak out, be heard, and be an active citizen then you are part of the problem. With the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (here forth referred to as the NDAA), the United States government can now “[grant] the military the unchecked power to arrest, detain, interrogate and even assassinate U.S. citizens with impunity.” (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.1540). We are now all fair game for the suspension of habeas corpus, right to trial by a jury of ones peers, and the suspension of due process. We are all now effectively below the government, with an even higher power distance then what we have had before. Is this really a government by the people, for the people? You have the right to think, you have the right to choose, and you have the right to take action. Regardless of what you’ve seen, whether it be the occupy movements, or any other civil disobedience you’ve seen, we were given the right to protest. It’s a first amendment right, and to suspend that is to be treated as less than a citizen. With our crusade against terrorism, an act such as the NDAA on the archetype of freedom is nothing more than disgracing the shrine of liberty we have created in our own self-image.

                  Now the United States government will fight back and tell you that this group is a terrorist group. Of course they would, when you catch someone cheating it’s obviously not great to be caught with your pants down. May I remind you the definition of terrorism though is two pronged, and both are best used against the accuser. The first definition is “the state of fear,” while the other is “a terroristic way of governing.” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/terrorism). The state of fear is entirely subjective, and if left to the broad standard everyone is a terrorist for inciting any sort of fear in anyone. If chosen anonymous or the government to be less afraid of, I would chose anonymous because they didn’t sign away my rights in a law. The second definition is what the NDAA is actually doing, causing terroristic way of governance. Now it is your turn to decide whether or not terrorist is an adequate word. You are never a terrorist for requesting information, you are never a terrorist for upholding the constitution and its beliefs, and you are never a terrorist for wanting to change the world.

                  This is not a recruitment call, but rather an eye opener. Anonymous should be seen as an eye opener, a group that teaches not to accept conventional thought without reason, and not a terrorist group. In a world that is plagued with collusion and corruption, and where politicians seek to skew facts and realities to further their own gain, Anonymous is there to keep them in line and play by the rules of the constitution our forefathers gave us. They are a Robin Hood of transparency and freedom of information, where even Mr. Hood himself was seen as a terrorist by those higher up. They are helping build a better, more informed and progressive society that the world needs to continue to thrive and further our existence as a species.

You have rights in this country. Don’t ever lose that thought. You are a citizen, and this is what we fought against in the revolutionary war. Together we can make a difference. Set down your arms of political parties and see that major reformation needs to be done. With atrocities happening in this country we have the right to act out. We have the right to show that this is our country, and that the one percent doesn’t control us. Our founding fathers instituted a rule of law to prevent this sort of mass power distance. Now you have a question on your side. Do you pretend like you never heard this? If you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Anonymous are only common people like you and I, with ideals and a search for knowledge and justice, if that makes them terrorists so be it. So remember, as long as injustice lives in the world Anonymous will always be there to say, “We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.”

Sources

Church0fScientology, youtube.com. Message to Scientology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ

Anonymous. "Anonymous vs Scientology - Why We Protest." Anonymous vs Scientology - Why We Protest. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2012. <https://whyweprotest.net/anonymous-scientology/>.

Vamosi, Robert. "Anonymous Hackers Take on the Church of Scientology." CNET News. CBS Interactive, 24 Jan. 2008. Web. 26 Sept. 2012. <http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9857666-57.html>.

"Why We Protest – Anonymous Activism Community -." Why We Protest. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2012. <https://whyweprotest.net/>.

”ESK - Anonymous vs. Scientology." ESK - Anonymous vs. Scientology. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2012. <http://exscientologykids.com/anonymous.html>.

AnonSynonomous, youtube.com. “Anonymous – NDAA Bill Awareness” !!!!!!!                      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btJ5jjhN3R8

"Bill Summary & Status 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) H.R.1540." Bill Summary & Status. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.1540:>.

"Terrorism." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/terrorism>.

Photos
Church0fScientology, youtube.com. Message to Scientology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ

Project Chanology." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 26 Sept. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Chanology>.

"Rais Yatim." World News. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://article.wn.com/view/2012/08/23/Why_Section_114A_should_be_repealed/>.

"OCCUPY MOVEMENT: Faith, Economy & Politics." SikhNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.sikhnet.com/news/occupy-movement-faith-economy-politics>.

"It’s Guy Fawkes Day! So, What Does the Mask Really Stand For?" Guy Fawkes Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.themarysue.com/guy-fawkes-day/>.