Writing for love
Reminder that anyone who wants to republish, translate or use any or all of my work has permission to do so free of charge, with or without attribution, in whole or in part. Put it on your blog, make merchandise, make pamphlets, make books, use it however you like.
Caitlin Johnstone
OK, OK….I am a huge fan of Caitlin Johnstone and her co-author Tom Foley, who does her podcasts. She belongs to a small and select group of writers who look beyond media filters — the mirrors and lenses and projections that CNN, the BBC, the NYT, WaPo and their ilk use to virtualize what we see.
Most people operate according to Descartes’ famous “I think therefore I am.” But I prefer the French philosopher Merleau Ponty whose writings are complex as you can see from the excellent wiki article — but which I usually sum up as, “I see therefore I think therefore I am”.
If what you “see” is mediated by CNN, you become just a minor character in their vast online video game story, limited by your programming, without independent or authentic being.
To really “think” and really “be” — you must first see with your own eyes.
Caitlin Johnstone, Lee Camp, Chris Hedges and others understand “mediated reality”. And, of course, monopoly media are just that — monopolies — they make every effort, if not to cancel, to marginalize dissent.
So Caitlin Johnstone has released her copyrights. In fact, she does even ask for attribution.
Yes, she walks the talk so you and I can see, to think, and finallybe.
So please do use my work in whatever way you want. Make tweets, memes, articles, flyers, zines, posters, signs, stencils, books, merchandise, whatever. Put my name on it, put your name on it, or make up some fictional name and attribute it to them. Use all of it or use parts of it. Keep it as is or change it. Do it for free or do it to make money. The words aren’t mine, they’re yours to do with as you please.
And feel free to bookmark this article so you can show it to anyone who tries to tell you different.
Caitlin Johnstone
I encourage others to follow Caitlin’s lead, which goes even beyond the excellent Cory Doctorow’s “open rights” concept. I certainly am, although I am a relatively minor writer by comparison. If you are a real writer, quote her and do the same. Real writers can’t not write: they write for love.
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Following the wonderful Caitlin Johnstone’s policy, I relinquish all copyrights to this article which may be republished or quoted freely. Please support Caitlin. As for me, I need your support, too. I am just starting to build a readership so please retweet or comment. I welcome criticism and debate.
