A Revolution Without Dancing is not Worth Having

I just came from seeing V For Vendetta If you haven't seen it yet, go, head directly to the theatre and sit yourself down and be prepared to think about what ultra-conservatism can lead to. Now I know that purists will say that it was not true to Alan Moore's original vision, and they are right. It isn't the same... it is just as powerful, just as poignant, and just as topical as the original was, but in different ways. Whereas the original was meant to be a social commentary on the Thatcher government and what it could lead to if allowed to go unchecked. It turns out that the Blair government is not so different than the Thatcher Regieme and therefore, the message in V rings loud and clear in today's world. There is also a great socal commentary on homophobia, racism, and stereotyping and what they too, can lead to.
The real message is for freedom, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of sexuality, freedom of belief and freedom of the human spirit. All of these are rights that have been logn and hard fought for, and to let go of any ground in those areas because of the propaganda our governments and our media would have us believe is to lose what it means to be free. Don't let governments into the bedrooms of the people, don't let them regulate a woman's right to choose, or a person's sexuality. Don't let the government, or the media, or the sponsors, such as the major drug companies, dictate what it is you get to see and hear.
At the same time, freedom of speech does not mean the freedom to oppress others with your words. Hate is not freedom of speech, it is oppression.
What needs to be embraced are universal ideals. The kind expounded in most of the world's major belief structures, before jealous and celibate old men rewrote them. Don't do to others what you would not have done to you, or do unto others as you would hve them do unto you, or just treat others as equals, be nice, share, get along.... respect. But don't allow your respect to stand if it is not returned. Reciprocity is a Confucian tenant, but it is there in many other faiths and philosophies. When someone stands to take away your civil liberties, there is no longer reciprocity, there is only oppression. Then the time is not to lie down and take it, but to stand against it.
Ok, yes I am on a soapbox here, but it is my soapbox damnit =) and yes the movie has stirred some of the revolutionary blood within me, or in honour of St. Paddy's day, got my Irish up a little. One of the first areas, along with basc civil liberties that starts to disappear is the arts. Music, poetry, plays, novels have all been vehicles for subversive ideas, and remain one of the main areas that get censored at the first opportunity. If you don;t believe me, ask the musicians in Cuba who have spent so many years behind bars for doing nothing more than playing music deemed to be contrary to the revolution. "Writers use lies to tell truths, while politicians use them to hide truths." There are many truths to be found if you know where to look for them.
I hope that George Bush, Tony Blair, Stephen Harper, Jacques Chirac, and all other leaders who would try to remove civil liberties are made to sit down and watch this. Bush would probably just not get it though... Blair would get it but would be too afraid to admit he was one of the oppressors. Harper would insist that he has the will of the people and Chirac would simply be indignant at beng questioned. After all, young workers should be able to be fired without any reason or notice given, right? (Which, by the way, is a ludicrous way to try and solve your unemployment. It just means that young workers will be taken advantage of, given no job security or promise of future, and companies will be able to fire them at will any time they get to close to obtaining benefits packages. It is a short term solution without any foresight and discriminatory to an entire sector of society... just in case you were about to sing the praises of the French for staying out of Iraq)
There is a frightening rise in rght-wing conservatism around the world right now, brought on by extremist attacks and fear mongering promoted by the media and the drug companies who would sell you no end of anti-depressants in order to mae the world seem less frightening... just don''t let them... it is very hard to kill an indeal, especially one that is in the right... Just remember.... Keep dancing and be free... enjoy the beauty of the freedom and never let the sight of it go....