[IndyMedia Bombay] IndyMedia and Freedom
Lucano Alvares
lukane at hotpop.com
Mon, 29 Jul 2002 16:59:14 +0530
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Dear All,
This is something I felt compelled to write after some thinking over the =
last couple of e-mails provoked by Boud. Please forgive me if I sound =
ignorant, as I am new to this group and haven't really gone through any =
of the stuff put up by IndyMedia yet. However, based on what I could =
gather from the meeting I attended on 21st July and conversations with =
people already within the group, I shall put forth a response:
What exactly is IndyMedia? Is it a franchise, like say, a McDonald's or =
Burger King, where us poor Third Worlders can apply to set up our own =
"outlet", and then, if we fit their requirements, can run, but only so =
far as we continue to satisfy their requirements? Or is it something =
bigger than all such definitions of First, Second and Third Worlds, =
something globally local (or as some wordsmith has coined it, "glocal"), =
where our relationship with other IMCs will only be one of co-operation, =
and not the paranoid "are we doing this freedom thing the right way" =
kind of self doubt that I feel has arisen within this group. I =
personally feel that there is no right way. The only path that is =
available to us right now, is one of trust, nay, faith in the power of =
freedom - to define and maintain the integrity of this group. I feel =
that no one can claim any kind of monopoly over that kind of freedom. =
There is no IndyMedia brand of freedom, only freedom. I greatly =
appreciate and respect the thought and hard work that has gone into the =
creation of something like IndyMedia. But at the same time, I would like =
to suggest that we be ready to reject even something this respectable =
and admirable, if it compromises on the core value of freedom. I =
recognise the value of association with a group as well-connected and =
resourceful as IndyMedia, but I feel that we also need to have a bit =
more courage and faith in our own abilities. I am certainly not against =
the setting up of an IndyMedia Mumbai, but only if it will be on equal =
terms with other IMCs around the world.
This is something I have written without much reference, so forgive me =
if my arguments sound superficial or, God forbid, naive. Personally, I =
see them as fundamental to what the nature and functioning of a group =
like this should be.
Thank you and warm regards,
Lucano.
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____________
Let us be lazy in everything, except in loving and drinking, except in =
being lazy. - Lessing=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dear All,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This is something I felt compelled to =
write after=20
some thinking over the last couple of e-mails provoked by Boud. Please =
forgive=20
me if I sound ignorant, as I am new to this group and haven't really =
gone=20
through any of the stuff put up by IndyMedia yet. However, based on what =
I could=20
gather from the meeting I attended on 21st July and conversations with =
people=20
already within the group, I shall put forth a response:<BR>What exactly =
is=20
IndyMedia? Is it a franchise, like say, a McDonald's or Burger King, =
where us=20
poor Third Worlders can apply to set up our own "outlet", and then, if =
we fit=20
their requirements, can run, but only so far as we continue to satisfy =
their=20
requirements? Or is it something bigger than all such definitions of =
First,=20
Second and Third Worlds, something globally local (or as some =
wordsmith has=20
coined it, "glocal"), where our relationship with other IMCs will only =
be one of=20
co-operation, and not the paranoid "are we doing this freedom thing the =
right=20
way" kind of self doubt that I feel has arisen within this group. I =
personally=20
feel that there is no right way. The only path that is available to us =
right=20
now, is one of trust, nay, faith in the power of freedom - to define and =
maintain the integrity of this group. I feel that no one can claim any =
kind of=20
monopoly over that kind of freedom. There is no IndyMedia brand of =
freedom, only=20
freedom. I greatly appreciate and respect the thought and hard work that =
has=20
gone into the creation of something like IndyMedia. But at the same =
time, I=20
would like to suggest that we be ready to reject even something this =
respectable=20
and admirable, if it compromises on the core value of freedom. I =
recognise the=20
value of association with a group as well-connected and resourceful as=20
IndyMedia, but I feel that we also need to have a bit more courage and =
faith in=20
our own abilities. I am certainly not against the setting up of an =
IndyMedia=20
Mumbai, but only if it will be on equal terms with other IMCs around the =
world.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This is something I have written =
without much=20
reference, so forgive me if my arguments sound superficial or, God =
forbid,=20
naive. Personally, I see them as fundamental to what the nature and =
functioning=20
of a group like this should be.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thank you and warm =
regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Lucano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><BR>____________________________________________________________=
__________________________<BR>Let=20
us be lazy in everything, except in loving and drinking, except in being =
lazy. -=20
Lessing </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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