Free Motjaba and Arash Day

No, this is not a promotional giveaway; it's a world blogger action day called to draw attention to Motjaba Saminejad and Arash Sigarchi, two Iranian bloggers being detained by their government because of their blogging.

You didn't think blogging was dangerous, did you? You thought it was just an excuse to sometimes mouth off, sometimes daydream, sometimes philosophise, all in this weird public-private space, never quite certain who's out there reading your ramblings or what they think. It's a little frightening, and oddly liberating.

Some people have lost their jobs because of their blogs.

TIP: if you talk about work, don't mention names.

Some people get arrested by their governments.

TIP: if you live under an authoritarian, repressive, and censorious government, keep your thoughts to yourself, make sure you can never be traced, and make no assumptions about your own safety.

Some people can be arrested by their governments for essentially keeping a diary, and for making it available to the public. Some people can be arrested by their government for having thoughts and ideas contrary to the official government doctrine, and for saying so. Some people can be arrested by their goverment because they post messages on computer bulletin boards, and have conversations in chat rooms - ordinary everyday people expressing everyday ordinary views.

People have a right to talk about what makes them happy, annoyed, or miserable. But apparently, that's just too dangerous for some.

Today is Free Motjaba and Arash Day. Think about that, because that's all Motjaba and Arash are free to do right now - think. You can still blog.