So What Just Happened With SOPA?
We Did It, We Stopped SOPA
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced he was postponing a scheduled test vote set for Tuesday “in light of recent events.” Those recent events were each and every one of us who emailed, called and visited our representatives offices to make sure we were heard.
Guess what, S.O.P.A has been taken off the schedule for voting and it’s a direct result of our actions.
So Is SOPA Dead? Never to Be Heard From Again? Did We Win?
This is not a full blown victory and we haven’t won the war but we did win the day. In all truth I would guess that the RIAA and it’s ilk will likely go for another bight of the proverbial apple. They will try again in due time but that time is not right now.
With SOPA Temporarily Dead In The Water Can We Go Back To Our Normal Lives Or Should We Keep Fighting?
It is up to us to police our lawmakers and make sure they are acting in our best interest always. Remember the saying “Freedom isn’t Free?” Well it’s true and the cost of that freedom is continued vigilance. We must pay attention to what is happening in Congress at all times, what bills are being proposed and what those bills mean to us and our freedoms.
Will The Media Companies Try Another Version of SOPA Again?
Short answer is: Yes, they probably will. That’s why it’s important for us to pay attention to what is going on around us and be ready to organize and push back when, and if that day comes.
The Motion Picture Association’s Chris Dodd had the following to say:
“This is altogether a new effect,” Dodd responded, comparing the on-line revolution to the Arab Spring of 2011. Dodd continued with saying he could not remember seeing “an effort that was moving with this degree of support, change this dramatically”
Two things were proven by our unparalleled historical actions:
#1. Having billions of dollars does not assure that you can get any and all bills passed.
#2. More importantly, is that when average Americans stand up and push back we can and will get results from our elected politicians.
We made our politicians feel the heat and made them aware that their jobs were at stake if they didn’t have our proverbial backs. In many ways I do see this as a win even if it’s not a full blown victory.
Final thoughts on SOPA and Activism; Never lose heart and allow yourself to be defeated, the Internet is our home and we won’t give it up without a fight of epic proportions. SOPA is dead and we have ourselves to thank for that. Last but not least, even though SOPA is dead, we must be vigilant and prepared to defend the Internet from future attacks on it and us.
