Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 08/11/2006 12:14:28 PM PDT by freepatriot32
Isn't it ironic that one of the things our enemies, the Islamofascists, hate about America is the very thing that enables them to operate here?
I'm talking about our openness. Our rights to privacy. The many freedoms granted us by the U.S. Constitution. And the protections and even special treatment afforded Muslim organizations in the U.S.
We're a society like no other.
Take for example last week's decision by Federal District Court Judge James Whittemore of Florida, who ruled in favor of ACLU lawyers last week that pat down searches before football games should be prohibited because they violate fans' Fourth Amendment rights. There is "no substantial, real risk," he opined, of terrorists killing people at football stadiums.
I guess he didn't hear about the University of Oklahoma student who tried to enter Sooner Stadium last fall after wiring himself to the gills with explosives. But most Americans didn't, so what's new?
The suit, originating with a Tampa civics teacher who'd obviously rather see Raymond James Stadium blown to smithereens than subject himself to a five second pat-down, could prompt many venues and the NFL to re-evaluate security policies, a seeming victory for jihadists and ACLU fans everywhere.
Meanwhile, in the Meadowlands in New Jersey, a special area has been set aside where Muslim fans can pray during a game. This came in response to allegations of profiling after some startled Giants fans last September grew alarmed when five Muslim men were observed getting up in the middle of the first quarter, congregating in a sensitive area near the stadium's main food prep area and air intake duct, spreading prayer rugs and doing their thing. The men were outraged at being questioned.
Thankfully, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority is making sure they'll pray in comfort this season. Who wants to be accused of profiling, especially since there's no threat to stadiums and we're not at war with Muslims (just certain Muslims who we can't identify until they decide to hijack a plane or shoot up a Jewish Federation building).
If I'm sounding a little frustrated, it's because so many Americans seem to be stuck on moot points regarding those who want to attack us. Instead of focusing on immediate concerns, while world events truly leave them and their arguments behind, they're stuck on WMD and Guantanamo detainees.
These deniers rarely have solutions to any threat, and can't see this conflict for what it really is. Hint: It's not Vietnam.
I wish they'd put the mullahs under a microscope, for once, and discuss their vow to activate terror cells here, or the "apocalyptic surprise" they claim to have in store for America on August 22.
It's been five years since the Islamofascists won their last battle on American soil, and most of us still aren't at war.
Maybe the deniers think all we need is a little football, and the enemy will simply go away.
lbarmstrong3378@comcast.net
I'd thumb my nose at the judge and tell the fans, if you don't want to be searched, you ain't getting in.
I remember the thread a week or 2 about this ruling. I think the main issue is it is a public stadium that is leased by the team. Therfore public property. I am opposed to the searches.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
One big difference is that its hot here. So they are patting down people wearing shorts and a tshirt. It's not Green Bay where people are wearing huge coats.
Pretty hard to hide a belt of explosives when anyone wearing a jacket is already considered suspicious.
That's okay. Everyone knows that if a terrorist strikes at an NFL game it will be from the Goodyear Blimp and not a fan in seat H347.
The ruling was actually against the Tampa Sports Authority. As far as I know, pat downs will be allowed at every other stadium but not in Tampa. My "guys" (hubby and son) are going to a football game at Raymond James tonight (first pre-season home game.) Guess they won't be patted down.
I work for the Philly baseball and football teams. Even the employees are subject to a search before entering the stadium. I'm not a big fan of warrantless searches by the police that can lead to an arrest...at the stadiums, if you have contraband, you are simply refused admission. (Don't know what would happen if, indeed, a bomb of some sort was found). Seems reasonable to me, espeially since the stadiums are privately owned (despit the tax doallars involved in their construction, but that's another argument.)
I guess this "doubting Thomas" judge will change his mind when a few hundered are blown up by a terrorist? Maybe not. But, if that happens, the NFL will suffer more than the airlines. Many need to fly but nobody needs to attend a football game.
Ah, but will they be allowed to bring in a "sports drink" bottle.
Truth is, I don't think you can bring any beverages into the stadium, but that has nothing to do with preventing terrroism, and everything to do with raising revenue.
These searches are more designed to boost concession sales by eliminating the food and drink items people can sneak in.
For the record, in Philly you are allowed to bring in your own food and (non-alcoholic) drinks in clear wrap and plastic bottles. No glass or cans allowed. I don't blame people for trying to sneak beer into the game, who wants to pay $7.00 for a watered-down Coors Light?
"Ah, but will they be allowed to bring in a "sports drink" bottle."
The times I've been there you can't take much in. If you are carrying a jacket it is searched. If you have it on they you have to open it for a visual.
And this was before the "pat downs" so IMO this new policy is about insurance premiums and not about safety.
For example, Lets say this judge was forced to sit in a section at a football game in San Francisco on a nice fall day, 60 degrees...not too cold...
In the surrounding 5 sections are 5 muslim males, aged 18-24 wearing winter coats. It is just cool enough that it is reasonable that they may just be cold. Certainly after the fact, a judge could convince himself that was the case.
I wonder if it happened that they were hiding suicide belts and they blew themselves up, or automatic weapons and opened fire on the crowd, and the judge lived through it what his opinion on searches before entering stadiums might be?
Do you think this judge's opinion would change? If that is the case, should it not change beforehand in the interest of safety? Why does it always take being attacked before people think about safety?
Raymond James Stadium is operated by the Tampa Sports Authority, a government authority with oversight and funding from the Hillsborough County Commission, built with government bonds. It ain't like a mall.
Unfortunately, what with public financing of these venues, that is less and less true these days.
I personally don't like living in a world where I am perpetually a suspect. If that's the way we have to be, then the terrorists Islamofacists and other totalitarians have already won. Bravo to the judge who is courageously taking the risk on himself because you can't pat down everybody, all the time, anyway.
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