Blogging and Freedom of Speech

The recent charges by the authorities on several bloggers here, to say the least, has been of concern - especially to the blogosphere and issues on freedom of speech. But let me just offer some words against those who rant and rave online - without any substance to guide their discourse.

jksadhfjhdlfash - now this is freedom of expression for you. If you are scratching your head, then you obviously aren't as consistent as you think you are. Why do i say so? Simple - if you really believe in a laissez-faire form of freedom, then that very nature of freedom has to presume that even linguistic restrictions do not apply online. In other words, you do not live by any rules - absurdity is the name of the game, my friend. Why bother to be coherent in the first place?

But if you agree with me that the rules of language in itself - presupposes that some form of regulation is in place - then what you are saying is that there is no such thing as "absolute freedom of expression" - and that all you are saying is that you disagree with whatever you are disagreeing with (at least that's intellectually more honest).

The next time I see or hear someone advocating freedom of expression without much consideration as to what this term means, I'm gonna get really angry...

Hurricane Katrina - reflections

The recent fury of Hurricane Katrina is a poignant and timely reminder on how vulnerable our human race is - and how lethal nature can be.

But even more sadly, the disaster highlighted the degenerative aspect of human nature - in the absence of the law enforcers.

The noble ideals of freedom - upon which America was founded upon - are being increasingly trampled on, ironically - in the name of freedom, resulting in a mob democracy... in other words, anarchy.

As David Brooks of the New York Times puts it, "It is beginning to feel a bit like the 1970's, another decade in which people lost faith in their institutions and lost a sense of confidence about the future."

"Katrina means that the political culture, already sour and bloody-minded in many quarters, will shift. There will be a reaction. There will be more impatience for something new. There is going to be some sort of big bang as people respond to the cumulative blows of bad events and try to fundamentally change the way things are."

The growing disenchantment with modernity has given rise to a new epoch known as postmodernism. Pomo however, if taken to radical extremes - and without any moral foundations - is a sure way of committing sociological and cultural suicide.

After postmodernism, what next? Dr Tong suggested... barbarism - and he may not be far from the truth.

Lest we forget, the destruction of Rome was not simply a result of the invading barbarians, but rather a moral implosion from within the Roman society.

Perhaps we are closer to realising Oswald Spengler's "Decline of the West" prophecy than ever before.
May God help us.