| A call for unity. |
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Our community is made up of a number of respectable and knowledgeable people gathering around a number of respected websites and forums. Boycott-RIAA, P2PNet, Downhill Battle, After Dawn, IMIRA.ORG, the MRA, The Last Voice, Free The Web and (pardon the plug) Tinfoil Music. All of these sites and its members strive for the same thing even though their methods may differ somewhat. For a much more complete list, please see StopRIAALawsuits.com. Recently a discussion took place on a site that is perhaps the keystone of the movement. The discussion came to a head with staff members of that site started clashing with the webmaster of another site. Both sites have the same goal: to change the state of the industry and to stand up for consumers. The two sites have different ideas on how to accomplish this however, and this is the root of the discussion. The discussion brought to light the cracks in our community. We are not unified. We have the makings of a powerful and unstoppable movement. We all seek the same thing and that is a stop to oppressive laws that strip the consumer of rights granted to them under various laws passed prior to the rise of the internet, broadband and P2P. We do, however, have different thoughts on how to do this and that is fine. No fight worth fighting is won head on and this fight is no different. We need more than one avenue for attack, more than one strategy. Whether you follow plan-a or plan-b, your goal is the same as that of your fellow members following the other plan of attack. If our community were to split into fragments, each following their own plan of attack and not co-coordinating with other splinter groups then the entertainment industry has already won a major battle: divide and conquer. Granted, they have yet to conquer, but by being a community divided, we will soon be. It is difficult to discuss this great need for unity without discussing some examples, which may or may not offend others. One such example is Normandy. This great battle which signified the end of the greatest and most devastating wars in human history was won by three countries unified against a common enemy. It would not have been won by American, British or Canadian troops acting alone. It was won by a unified front, though each group was tasked with more specific things. The above example is not meant to say that the battle we find ourselves in is anywhere near as important or dangerous as Normandy, it is just used as an example. We as a community must also understand that before the industry will respect us, those we fight for must respect us. For this to happen we must be civil, law-abiding people. We can not come across as a group of nuts breaking laws we feel are unfair. Activism is not about breaking unjust laws. Activism is about getting unjust laws changed. If we are perceived as a group of kids afraid that we will no longer be able to infringe upon the copyrights of others, then we will not be afforded the respect we need to win this battle. There is no one member of our community who is going to win the battle. There is no one website or forum which is going to win the fight for the rest. Each of these entities form smaller communities but be certain that these smaller entities are part of one giant entity. Each smaller entity has a slightly different plan of attack, and that is something that will help us. We will fight for change on many sides. We will fight for change from above and below. The industry and those supporting it will not know what hit them! Once we as members of these smaller sub-communities realize this and join together, the entertainment industry will have reason to take notice, have reason to tremble. They will do this because we will have in our power a vast number of people, of consumers, united against them. A vast group speaking with one voice demanding one thing: respect. With that respect will come change and a realization on the part of the industry that we are not their enemy. Rather, we are their lifeblood. Once the industry is made to see this, change will happen. Reform will happen. Laws will be repealed and rights returned. Joe McGuire aka Tinfoil, Tinfoil Music Copyright notice: This article may be printed / distributed freely but must remain intact and reference either this page or Tinfoil Music proper. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          Add your comment
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