Citizens of the world residing in Democratic societies assume that they have the ability to do and say as they please. They believe that all men are created equal, and that they have certain rights and freedoms ... including freedom of speech. These notions are dangerous and threaten to bring the Internet to its virtual knees.

Adults past the age of fifteen who believe that a poor unemployed high-school dropout has the same rights and freedoms as those of us who are educated, wealthy and powerful are clearly deluded and blind to the realities of the electronic age. They do not comprehend the consequences of allowing their ignorance and uninformed views to be efficiently dispersed across our preferred Internet community.

With record numbers of people "going online" everyday comes a large majority of people unqualified to successfully ponder and complete even the most basic and primal daily tasks, never mind expressing themselves to others. The current technologies enabling the Internet to exist are now buckling under the demands of these people to do just that. Those of us worthy of participating in such enlightened and stimulating debates are encountering busy signals eminating from our modems and longer delays as our premium data is slowed by stressed and crowded network lines.

Those without the financial resources to afford faster modems are forcing content developers to design sites on the World Wide Web for the lowest common denominator. Sites that promote compatibility with multiple browsers and slow modems are hindering the quality of expression by those of us qualified to demand an audience. Similarly, those unqualified to speak out need not invest in a printing press, television studio or radio station; the tools to communicate on the Internet are inexpensive and quickly learned, thereby allowing unhindered and rampant dispersion of questionable ideas and information.

The majority of sites then become largely text-based and include small, quick-loading graphics, thereby delaying full implementation of a rich, multimedia online environment and retarding the creative options of those among us able to secure a cable modem and a pair of VistaView 3-D Web Navigation goggles from THE CORPORATION.

It is clear that this situation can no longer be tolerated by those of us who have a right to digitize our views and ideas. We are fully deserving of the money, power and respect that we have worked a lifetime for and should consider the online outspokenness of the masses, as guaranteed by the United States Constitution, and similar documents, as a real and impending threat to our priveledged way of life, and our right to place our own ideas, thoughts and concerns above those of others.

As the promise of online commerce becomes a reality, those of us who will benefit financially need not fear that this campaign seeks to remove millions of potential consumers from the Internet. Anyone should still be able to send e-mail to a censored, predetermined collection of friends and family members, as well as shop and order any kind of merchandise online. However, all but the most basic Internet communication would be reserved for that small collection of us skilled in communicating effectively the ideas, agendas and information that advance our world and our ability to be comfortable, prosperous and adequately entertained in it.

It is clear today that those who should be able to speak freely and those who should not should be branded accordingly using whatever system or technologies necessary. For now, a posting of the RGB ribbon on your site will begin the process of distinguishing us from those who should be silenced. The ribbon is a visual cue to the Internet community that you are not willing to model our precious virtual world after the inclusive, tolerent and ignorant one we live in physically.

Join in our cause.

And if you're an active citizen who knows that they shouldn't be speaking freely and publically via the Internet, remember ... listening is free, too.


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