Hackers or Hacktivists?

There are definite ethical and societal confusions when it comes to understanding what hacking really it and what purpose it serves. Over the last 30 years, most hackers were those who intended to learn more about technology and create cyberspace societies in which to meet those who had similar interests. Most hackers were either rebellious teenagers or those who intended to develop more advanced technologies by decoding preexisting ones. Now a days, it seems there are is shift in what purpose hackers truly serve. Many hackers have become hacktivists hoping to spread political views via personal blog and web pages or taking over political websites. This form of hacking has become most extremely common, and confused with the hacking intended to exploit others. The law has created an ideology that hackers are rebellious citizens who do not follow through with societal order and surveillance. Opposing this, hacktivists are simply voicing their views through websites rather than protesting on the streets. Cyberspace has become a new place for activists to create identities and discover others who share the same understanding of societal norms and views. This was posted on the CNN website during the Chinese olympics in Beijing, when the government felt offended by the allegations of the western press in portraying their country in a negative light.
This message was a way for Chinese hacktivists to make sure their word was reached by a large portion of the western world. This type of hacking is common and usually these groups have sites which help create a common place to meet in the virtual world. Hackbloc.org is a website that clearly states on the home page, was created with the intention of attracting other hacktivists to discuss and identify with others who have the same political beliefs. It allows hackers to feel free in creating such controversy as the hacking of the CNN website created. Is this right ethically? Should hackers be allowed to do this?