Time to speak your mind
The winds of change are everywhere. New president, new cabinet of ministers, new policies, new laws, renewed hopes and looking forward to a new and better future as a nation of united people - in many ways, a new country.
Almost everyone is rejoicing the ousting of dictator Gayoom. Everyone, that is, except those that were direct beneficiaries of the corrupt regime. But I do not want to talk about them right now. I want to talk about those who feel the shackles of oppression and the weight of suppression of freedom of speech being destroyed and lifted as a result of having Gayoom ousted.
Yes, it is time to speak your mind.
I believe, freedom of expression, or freedom of speech, is the underlying foundation of great nations of the world. It is essential to the checks and balances system required for the transparent governance to be established. People speaking freely, without hindrance and without fear of persecution and punishment is necessary for truth, justice and the rule of law to prevail.
And it is for these reasons, that those who have been quiet and afraid all these years must come out and start expressing freely. One way, and by far the easiest way, is to start a blog. The Dhivehi blogging community is very strong and it continues to grow in numbers and strength. It has been a vocal participant in building the road towards reform and the transformation of this country that we're seeing today. When you think about it, even Dhivehi Observer is a blog.
So express yourself, create an account on Blogger.com or Wordpress.com. If you are uncomfortable revealing your real name you can sign up using an alias and remain anonymous. Why speak your mind to a few at meetings and coffee breaks when you can have the entire world listen to you and have your thoughts permanently etched into history?
The world is better when we replace silence with our thoughts.
MShahdy | November 5, 2008 5:28 AM | Reply
Well said Simon.
Cheers
Ismail Rasheed | November 5, 2008 8:49 AM | Reply
Well said.
Freedom of expression is an unalienable right of every human. Speak up and shape your own future.
Hilath Rasheed | November 5, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply
Well-said.
Island Kid | November 5, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply
True enough Simon.
However when people start criticizing (constructive or not) the blog contents and its respective thoughts most people cannot take it normally.
I'd urge new bloggers to ignore the criticism and only respond back if you really have strong enough arguments. Otherwise write the blog post and stay silent ;)
loly | November 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply
My father doesnt know how to use internet.
Anonymous | November 5, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply
Being Anonymous is very important. Commenters picking on grammar, spellings, accent, skin colour or family of the writer is still common among sub-humans such as myself.
When we see commetners who think that they are so intelligent but are dump asses really and likes to make fools out of themselves by hiding behind anonynimity and calling it freedom. Is he really being an ass or what?
http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/projects/guide/
Anonymous,
I couldn't agree more. And on that note I'd like to add the glaring fact that this blog is not a democracy where witless commenters are allowed to dribble their poppycock.
This blog is very much a dictatorship.
Thank you for the comment. You are very right.
n | November 5, 2008 8:08 PM | Reply
What sort of things are on your mind that you couldnt say before that you now can say? except for being able to criticize the govt now.
Actually, that's a good point. I think criticizing the government is just part of it. Opinion, commentary and reaction are also part of it.
In the end this post is just to encourage people to start blogging. For instance, I can see on Dr. Abdulla Waheed's blog a lot of contributions from various people. Some of them regular contributors. I'm suggesting that those contributors try their hand at having their own blog. It could be a good experience.
I know some people (no, I'm not talking about contributors to Dr. Waheed's blog anymore) are reluctant to create a blog because it is simply a completely new thing.
The Anon | November 5, 2008 8:44 PM | Reply
Yea this does feel new. It's like masturbating in public... Thanks for letting us walk through your dicktatorship Peter.
But I agree, 'The world is better when we replace silence with our thoughts'.