And Now I Know!

Now I know why I was in such a fabulous mood today!

SOPA and PIPA have been dropped today! 

Part of the email I received:

"We’ve won for now -- SOPA and PIPA were dropped by Congress today -- the votes we’ve been scrambling to mobilize against have been cancelled.

The largest online protest in history has fundamentally changed the game.  You were heard.

On January 18th, 13 million of us took the time to tell Congress to protect free speech rights on the internet. Hundreds of millions, maybe a billion, people all around the world saw what we did on Wednesday.  See the amazing numbers here and tell everyone what you did.

This was unprecedented. Your activism may have changed the way people fight for the public interest and basic rights forever.

The MPAA (the lobby for big movie studios which created these terrible bills) was shocked and seemingly humbled.  “‘This was a whole new different game all of a sudden,’ MPAA Chairman and former Senator Chris Dodd told the New York Times. ‘[PIPA and SOPA were] considered by many to be a slam dunk.’”

“'This is altogether a new effect,' Mr. Dodd said, comparing the online movement to the Arab Spring. He could not remember seeing 'an effort that was moving with this degree of support change this dramatically' in the last four decades, he added."   "

I literally did a little dance.

I never talk politics on my blog.

It's supposed to be a happy place! 

But when it comes to things like this, 

I couldn't sit it out.

I wrote 3 letters to congress,

signed several petitions, 

and even made a phone call.

Though, lucky me, the line was busy.

I would have talked the guys  ear off.

But in the letters,

I explained that I'm an artist.

A starving artist at that, and that I am living my dream. 

If SOPA and PIPA were to pass, I would no longer be able to do that.

Several of my artist, musician, and blogger friends wouldn't be able to continue our dreams.

I know that since PIPA and SOPA have been dropped, 

there is a chance they could still come back.

Lobbyist efforts and small amendments

can put internet censorship right back up there again.

But at least they know we won't go down without a fight.

I'm a very feisty girl, and I'm glad I have fellow feisty friends!

I'm very very proud to be part of these numbers.

I'm very proud that several of you guys helped out.

Thank you so much for taking a stand!

Change

I talk about change quite a bit, don't I?

Change is always constant.

Sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's good.

Last week I painted these girls.

One changing to a tree, 

the other changing to water.

There was no real reason I painted them, 

other than change is always happening.

Sometimes we can't do anything about it, 

sometimes we can.

My dear friends,

I hate politics. 

I really do...

But, today I'm taking action

and I hope you will too. 

(I'm like Dr Seuss!) 

I won't speak too much of it on my blog...

But, I believe in stopping piracy and copyright infringement,

without censorship.

If you think you won't be affected, think again.

Read about it here and here and... Another great article!

And do something about it 

Here.

I myself have signed 3 petitions,

and wrote a letter to the Utah congress.