We recently received an email from a woman who follows our blog. She wished the blog happy third birthday and said she had chosen not to comment publicly because of the way the government now monitors the internet, blogs, website, with greater depth. Here’s the link about it.
“The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Media Monitoring Initiative (MMI) has been expanded to collect and track information from online forums, blogs, public websites, message boards, and social networking sites, as well as gather “personally identifiable information” (PII) on journalists and media writers,” says the article.
Interestingly, we’ve noticed an uptick in the number of hits by military ISPs lately. These hits often come from Arlington, Virginia or from obscure town in Maryland, or from Washington, D.C. The hits from D.C. are sometimes from the State Department or the “District of Columbia government.”
Once, last year, we got a hit from the White House after one of Obama’s speeches. But that doesn’t count in this context because it appeared that someone in the Obama administration was looking for reactions to his speech out here in blogland. What counts here, I think, is that the government realizes blogging is a dynamic way of exchanging information, increasing awareness, of changing minds. They also understand that social media is, of course, as witnessed in the Mideast, a way to organize a revolution, a rebellion, or just a protest.
Our friend mentioned that she has seen many blogs simply disappear because bloggers fear they’re being monitored. That’s tragic. The Bush administration’s mantra was, Be afraid, be very afraid, they’re coming for you, watching you, we’ll protect you…. And in the several years after 9-11, they were successful with their fear message. But as people woke up, they realized Bush was like the wizard in Oz, a small, pathetic man whose power lay in the people around him – Rove, Wolfowitz, Cheney. These guys were the ones who spun the illusions.
If bloggers go silent, if blogs vanish because of fear, if social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook begin to censor, then how are we different from China? South Korea? Cuba? I emailed the link to several people and one friend who responded feels that the last remnant of democracy vanished in December …presumably when Obama signed a bill that allows the military to indefinitely detain American citizens without trial. If you look suspicious, if you act suspiciously, you are basically screwed.
In just the last year, the number of names on the U.S. No-Fly list has doubled. Why? Have we been attacked? Are there new threats? Well, if you watch the new TV show Homeland, and there’s any semblance of truth to it, then the answer is yes, and the people who guard our security are the most paranoid on the face of the planet.
I can’t imagine what a military information-gathering unit can find in posts about the mysterious, hidden, implicate order from which synchronicities unfold. I can’t imagine what material they would find in in any of the blogs we follow that constitutes a security threat. But hey, maybe while they’re checking out these blogs they run across something that resonates for them. Lights go off in their heads, sirens shriek, they are floored, stunned, and their worldviews shift. Now that would be something, wouldn’t it?
And that’s why no blogger should retreat in fear. We all have something to contribute to the paradigm shift. We all have wisdom to share.
North Korea.
Exactly!
I think that TPTB are using fear to try and control the new info coming forward.
Your statement saying that they are trying to stifle info I feel, is correct.
Very interesting article.
without reiterating that which has already been said and with which i totally agree – it IS up to each of us to continue speaking up and out – as you know, i, too have been followed not only by this government but by the government agencies of other countries – enough so with one in particular [other country], some time ago, that i left a comment to them on my blog asking them the purpose of their visits – of course, no one ever responded – in any event, another thought-provoking post reminding us all of our individual and collective responsibilities…
Great post! I am happy to see Bernard’s comment. 🙂
I would have to say that I am one of the terrified ones, as well as being swamped by the magnitude of issues I am dealing with right now. Every time i think i will get on Blogger and say something that is important to me, my gut clenches and I feel a real terror. What is with that? I’m no sook, but my body rebels at the thought of it.
It’s just good to see you here, Nat.
About your comments on Psychiatric Annals papers on coincidence. I edited that issue as well as a 2009 issue on coincidence. I apologize for only recently having found your very interesting website. Thanks for your fair and clear review of the articles. The articles were criticized for taking the fun out of synchronicity by a commentator. There can be a lot of fun in the study of coincidences. We can learn how to use them better and how to increase them and, what is often ignored, how to avoid ones that could lead to trouble. Your website is contributing to our understanding and use of them. I hope to engage you in increasing our understanding of their multiple sources and potential uses both for individuals who experience them and for what they tell all us humans about what we have yet to learn about the nature of reality.
We were delighted to find find that psychiatrists are looking seriously at synchronicity! It’s such an intriguing phenomenon, particularly when you suddenly have one of those Aha! moments.
Many of the people who comment here experience synchronicity frequently and consistently and their experiences contribute to our general well of knowledge about what it is and isn’t and what it may ultimately reveal about the nature of reality.
We’re glad to help however we can. Thank you very much for stopping by and leaving such a thoughtful comment!
yes – what a very thoughtful comment left above – a refreshing and hopeful view from that sector – very nicely done!
thank-you very much for replying! And your kind comments. Thank-you for your offer to help in the development of Coincidence Studies. Colleagues in several universities as well as outside are beginning to join together to make sense out of the wide range of events and experiences we call synchronicity and coincidence. I’d very much appreciate your reading and possibly reviewing my paper on Coincidence Studies in the December Psychiatric Annals. Afterwards would you then suggest how you might help the field develop?
Wow, we’d love to read it and review it. I’m sure people who comment would enjoy offering their input on how we can all help the field to develop. We’ve always thought of synchronicity as an equal opportunity experience. It is common to all people and seems to cut
across cultural, ethnic and religious differences. In both of our books on the subject, we’ve used stories that come from individuals in different countries, cultures, ethnic groups. We’ll do a post on it when the your paper comes out and throw open the doors to comments and
suggestions. Thank you for the opportunity!
Thanks very much! The paper appeared in the same issue of Psychiatric Annals that you reviewed. Please just look in the same place you found the other articles.
I think we all have to do what we feel is right (as long as it harms no one else), so bloggers must continue to write what they believe. Blogs, social networking and the like are powerful tools that can influence the world (hopefully for the better) – so no wonder Big Brother will want to stamp this out. But, as you indicate, we must never give up our freedoms.
You’re right Mike.
While everyone might be sighing with relief that 1984 has come and gone,if we are complacent about our “freedoms” and don’t fight to keep what we have,then 1984 might just be not too far up ahead after all.
Up ahead and several decades late!
Hi guys – I totally love this article! I too know people who have retreated from social networks due to fears of being spied on, which in my view, is perpetuating and exacerbating a situation in the outer world, that is contradictory to the way you actually want it to be. If we, as individuals, have dreams & visions, opinions, insights & ideals and if we want those to have any impact on our shared reality, then we have to be willing to share those parts of ourselves, come what may. Also, I feel that the goal posts only appear to be changing. Being afraid to be visible on the internet is really no different from being afraid to attend a public rally or speak up at a public meeting. Yes, there are examples of people who have suffered greatly through their decision to put themselves in the limelight, but where would our world be without the much publicised wisdom of MLK, Ghandi, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, to name but a few. It takes courage to expose yourself and your thoughts, but expanding and sharing with a loving heart, rather than retreating through fear is the only way for each of us to play a role in continuing to creating a more harmonious world. As you say, this is the only way that there can ever be hope of a truly positive and powerful paradigm shift.
Apologies for essentially repeating everything you just said – you just got me all passionate on that one 🙂
Agree with you on all points!
Life is inherently risky. We don’t get out of here alive, last I heard. After my blog was removed and I was able to restore it by giving them my phone number and receiving a text message code, I wondered what is going on. Maybe someone out there doesn’t like my blog and reported it as objectionable. Maybe my political views leaked out between the lines. I don’t know, I guess I won’t ever.
But my blog is important to me and to my readers, not because of any content that might be objectionable, but because we are indeed creating a new paradigm here: we are connecting with new and exciting people and ideas in ways that have nothing to do with the traditional. So I am going with the changing worldview that will eventually spread to the military. Thoughtful post…
Glad you got your blog restored, DJan. Reporting someone’s blog as objectionable is certainly one way to stifle dissent – and the emergency of a new paradigm.
Dang…I had no idea that anyone could or would do that. I’m going to have to make a back-up of my blog. Would hate to “lose” it if someone didn’t like some of my posts.
You don’t have to worry about me deleting my blog, though. I am one who doesn’t fear government censorship or agents appearing at my door. I just finished reading a book about Burma and that government is truly messed up. If the people of Burma (especially Aung San Suu Kyi) can bravely live each day in Burma, then Americans certainly can live bravely in the USA. I have never understood our irrational fear of terrorism to the point where we are willing to endure even more intense screenings at airports.
Great points, Sansego!