Julian Assange got his first computer at the age of 15. With a Commodore 64 and a modem, he started to explore the cyberworld. A geek rebel with romantic ideals, he soon became one of the most accomplished computer expert in Australia. A sort of Robin Hood of the information age whose aim is to re-establish the dignity of truth.
Assange may be referred to as the ‘Truth-Bringer’. As Prometheus stole fire from Zeus, so Assange ‘stole’ the truth from the puppet masters’ trove. If in Greek mythology the ‘fire-bringer’ was celebrated as the ‘original rebel’, in contemporary political history Assange can be considered as one of the most insurgent geek-rebels of the current digital revolution. A revolution that Karl Marx would have much enjoyed, regarding the Greek myth as truly inspirational – the foremost in the philosopher’s calendar.
In a recent interview, speaking about the WikiLeaks’ strategy Assange summed it up as ‘courage is contagious’. He explained ‘if you demonstrate that individuals can leak something and go on to live a good life, it’s tremendously incentivizing to people ‘. If courage can be really contagious, as Assange claims, let us hope this infectious disease will spread soon and increase the likelihood of an epidemic. Do not be scared! Do not protect yourselves and your kids from the infection, rather avoid ‘anti-leak jabs’ and keep tabs on upcoming WikiLeaks revelations. If your GP is cool enough, he will reassure you that there could not be a more healthy illness than that!
Appendix: “Good Parenting Manual. How to Raise Cool Kids”
Top tips for Parents:
i. Read your kids educational bedtime stories. The Adventures of Pinocchio will help them not to tell lies;
ii. Teach them to express their ideas freely and tell always the truth;
iii. Teach them to protect the underdogs and not be scared of big fishes at school;
iv. Do not let your kids get the ‘anti-leak’ Vaccine, courage will make them strong and healthy;
v. Let them read a bit of poetry and philosophy;
vi. At 14 or 15 give them an evolved version of Commodore 64 and a modem. Most importantly, trust them if they tell you they will save the world with that stuff.
If your cool kids won’t save the world, remember they will gradually change it through passion, inspiration and justice.
