Anonymous: Guardians of The Constitution? In a Way, Yes.

As I sit on my bike this morning, strapped to the trainer, spinning my way to nowhere, I find myself thinking of the shocking developments underway in the Syrian conflict. Replay after replay of Anderson Cooper on the television and satellite radio. Updates from the infamous “Danny,” a Syrian man in the midst of the conflict who is bravely and defiantly informing the world on CNN via satellite. I also find myself thinking about where I have heard information first on the conflict and I have come to the conclusion that, while surprising yet obvious, it has been Twitter. Specifically, I have been getting up to the minute information from the notorious hacker conglomerate Anonymous through their Twitter handle @YourAnonNews. Which brings me to the question I am pondering as I peddle away this morning. Do I like Anonymous or not?

On the one hand, I am an attorney and believer in our laws and system of justice and Anonymous does run afoul of the law from time to time. On the other hand, I am a bit unconventional in my own right, perhaps slightly outside the mainstream and a firm believer in checks on government power. When it comes down to it, that is the very foundation of the justice system in our country. It is immortalized in our Constitution which sets forth the system of checks and balances between our three branches or government: executive, legislative, judicial. While those branches are designed to balance each other, who strikes the balance between the government as a whole and everyday citizens? THE PEOPLE! Anonymous is the people and its work represents a truly noble and ancient cause. That cause is fighting back against misuse of power and oppression of the people by government and, in the modern age, corporate abuse of power. If fact, it is every citizen’s obligation to resist the unlawful use or abuse of power. Maybe it is the rebel in me, fueled by the unwavering belief that it is often up to the people to keep the government and its powerful corporate friends in check that draws me to this conclusion: yes, I do like Anonymous.