Blood Money

How would it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul in return? That’s an ancient question that a prophet asked in another time and place but the timelessness of the question makes it very apt for everyone who values their freedom to ask CISCO System, Alcatel and Juniper Network executives today.

These are just the latest corporations to join the ranks of Western IT companies (Yahoo, Google, Microsoft etc.) who are willing to sell out the freedom of others for a larger slice of the bottomline. Make no mistake, I support free market capitalism but not at the price of appeasement for those governments who seek the enslavement of their population or to allow those government’s the tools to suppress dissent or the basic freedoms of Life, Liberty and the Individual pursuit of Happiness.

I wholeheartedly support a free market for those who can trade freely and of their own violation. I have argued for years against the expansion of trade with totalitarian governments as I have yet to see tangible proof that free trade with totalitarian governments has resulted in a freer society for those people subjugated. I defy you to show me how Cuba, Iran or Sudan have become freer societies because Canada trades with them. Exactly how long should one reasonably wait to see the alleged benefit of free trade begin to translate into an expansion of human rights in countries like Saudi Arabia or China?

Chris, my fellow Red Ensign Blogger from Myrick and group blog member of AsiaPundit sent an email to our fearless Brigade commander, Ray at Raging Kraut:

posted by: myrick
Email: myrickblog@gmail.com
URL: http://www.asiapundit.com
Location: Shanghai

Hi Ray;

This is off topic. I'm not above link-whoring but I wouldn't not
post this if the circumstances weren't somewhat urgent. China has
ressurected it's blackout of TypePad hosted blogs.

BLACKLISTED

Pressuring the CPC is impossible of course, so I'm hoping to shame
the collaborators:

CENSORSHIP

If you are reading this blog, or run your own blog, you are actively taking part in the right of exercising free speech. These companies are actively collaborating with a totalitarian regime to suppress dissent, knowledge and free speech in People’s Republic of China.

How many of us blog readers or bloggers would idly stand by as our government actively sought the technological tools to suppress our rights to free speech, expression or association? The people of China are no less human than us, and they deserve no less freedom. Individually, none of us can influence the Communist government of China, but as Chris points out we can influence and protest to those who seek would seek profit in the enslavement of others. And I would remind you of the words of Victor Davis Hanson whose creed is quoted in the banner of the Last Amazon, It is never wrong to stand on the side of freedom – never.

Please choose to make a stand for freedom today.