This Can Still Be Our Alamo. Remember January 17th

Then just hours after Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) announced PROTECT IP vote had been delayed, SOPA sponsor Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), announced he would be postponing the consideration of his legislation.

The ‘victory against SOPA’ was a brilliantly strategic move to subdue the public. They gave us an inch so that when we turn our attention elsewhere, they can take a mile. They let us proclaim this a victory for the people, proof the American government is really FOR the people BY the people – their campaign posters couldn’t have said it better. They know that when our faith in our country is restored, our attention is diverted. They know what January 18, 2012 could have been – it could have been our Alamo. Growing up in Texas, I know the story well:  On February 23, 1836, President General Antonio López de Santa Anna ordered thousands of Mexican troops into (modern day) San Antonio to launch an attack on the Alamo Mission. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Alamo’ s 200 defenders held off attackers for 13-days before eventually being overpowered by Santa Ana’s army. But what could have been a devastating blow to Texan morale was turned into a battle-cry that emboldened  soliders to defeat the Mexican Army and win their freedom at the  Battle of San Jacinto. The Battle of the Alamo was THE pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Loosing the battle helped them to win the war. The Texas army needed to know what they were up against. They needed to understand the cruelty of their opponents. And most importantly, they needed to be reminded of what they were fighting for. This can still be our Alamo. While we didn’t lose the battle, we still saw what we were up against – We saw the power of billions of dollars of corporate lobbying. We watched as the mainstream media outlets ignored the the story in an effort to protect their vested interest. We uncovered some of our favorite technology companies like Apple, Sony, and Microsofts unflinching desire to suppress competition, and industry innovation. While we didn’t lose the battle, we saw the lengths our opponents are willing to go to. We were reminded of the MPAA and the RIAA’s history of attacking any industry innovation. We heard the ridiculous rhetoric our government officials offered to keep out anyone with a technical knowledge of the Internet from testifying. We laughed in horror as random quotes from MPAA-financed bloggers were admitted in as evidence of the bill’s technical passivity.  We realized there are enough ignorant lawmakers with disregard for our constitution to pass any legislation with enough financial support But were we reminded what we are fighting for? Sure, we are fighting for Internet Freedom. But more than, we are fighting for a government that choose to protect its citizen’s rights over corporate interests. We are fighting for a Congress and a House that are technically competent to understand the the implications of Internet policy or humble enough to admit when they don’t. We are fighting for a government  that fiercely protects our freedom. Maybe the Texas troops could have won their freedom even if they had not lost the Alamo. Maybe our battle victory won’t hinder us from winning the war. My hope is that January 18th  won’t pacify us, that the morsel of change won’t satisfy our hungry for more.  My hope is that we “Remember January 17, 2012”. We remember our outrage. We remember our determination to ensure that the officials who demonstrated more concern for their pocketbooks than our freedoms do not get reelected.  We remember the need for more of the 1%ers to run for office  and change our government from the inside out. We remember our bold focus. We remember our passion.