Anonymous are the Defenders of the Defenseless

“Defenders of the Defenseless” can anonymous truly make these claims. In an interview with CNN Anonymous was asked a question of why they would get involved in certain types of cases such as Rape or hate cases when they are supposedly “The Rulers of the Internet”. I too have question why they get involved and then that’s when the Defenders of the Defenseless comment was brought up. My issue with this is how Anonymous can call themselves the defenders of the defenseless if they only try to get involved in high profile cases.

I have noticed that they get involved in cases where the victim or guilty has been treated unfairly or an error has been made within the case or trial but upon further investigation they only target the cases that are the most covered or televised. It makes me wonder if maybe they get involved because yes they believe that’s something wrong was done and someone needs to make a stand but also to get more media attention for themselves. Are their actions done because they truly believe in the cause or case or are they just seeking the media attention? I want to believe that it’s more than just an attention getting act because I believe in some of the things Anonymous stands for. I have followed Anonymous for years and have been intrigued by their protests and hacktivism activities. That’s not to say I haven’t been frustrated or disagreed with some of them as well.

Edmund Burke (January 12, 1729 - July 9, 1797) was an Anglo-Irish statesman, author, orator and political philosopher, who served for many years in the British House of Commons as a member of the Whig party. He is chiefly remembered for his support of the American colonies in the struggle against King George III that led to the American Revolution, as well as for his strong opposition to the French Revolution. His ideas resembled the ideology of Anonymous for he stood against an oppressive force then. What I found interesting is how it almost seems as if time were repeating itself and Edmund Burke was a part of an original group of Vigilantes which then were seen exactly how we see anonymous. Is it possible that the things they are doing and have done are truly in searching for justice are they our future liberators?

I tried to find a word better than the phrase defenders of the defenseless that could really describe what anonymous is: Vigilantes which is defined as members of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate. The big question after reading that is whether that is what Anonymous is and whether what they are doing is actually in defense of the defenseless. In one instance they protested the Westboro Baptist church that planned to protest the Newtown memorial service. In this situation I would have agreed but the way they did it seemed more harmful then helpful. Anonymous released addresses and phone number of members of the church and thus endangering anyone who lived there including innocent children. There is a phrase that’s says two wrongs don’t make a right. That seems to be true in most cases. Also how many cases have the victims asked for Anonymous help it seems Anonymous is more bent on the punishment then the help. A better term for them to use is maybe “Punishers of the Wrong.” A clear picture pops into my head when I think of defending the defenseless and it’s a mother protecting her child; that is defending the defenseless.

Do the research do you think Anonymous are the “Defenders of the Defenseless”?

Sources

http://quotationsbook.com/quote/6929/

Clark, J. C. D. (2001). Edmund Burke: Reflections on the Revolution in France: a Critical Edition. Stanford. p. 25. 

  Edmund Burke, A Letter from The Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord, on the Attacks made upon him and his pension, in the House of Lords, by The Duke of Bedford and The Earl of Lauderdale, Early in the present Sessions of Parliament. (F. and C. Rivington, 1796), p. 20.