Posted on 12/29/2003 9:18:12 AM PST by NorCoGOP
MESA, Ariz. -- There appears to be a trend emerging in modern Western society. It is something that has been noticeable in the past, but is something that I think has become more prominent and disturbing in recent years. It is the habit we have developed of sacrificing personal freedom and convenience in favor of increased security, almost always in reaction to an isolated incident which we are afraid to treat as such.
Periodically, and with alarming frequency, something tragic will happen that will be greatly publicized. Perhaps this event injures or kills a person or many people; and, whether it is the media-driven American people demanding a change or elected officials eager to look like they are making a difference, precautions are put in place which restrict those very American people to the point that such an event recurring is nearly impossible.
The most dramatic of these events, with the most far-reaching internal effects, has been the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. I recall when our leaders assured us that the best way to fight the terrorists ourselves was to continue to live our lives normally and enjoy the freedoms that our enemies would wish to take away from us.
But our fear became a far greater opponent to our freedoms than any band of calculating psychopaths could ever achieve. And so things began to change.
As if to protect us from the inevitable eventuality of further hijackings, soldiers with machine guns took the place of obnoxious airport metal detector attendants. All luggage needed to be unpacked, studied, and repacked before transport on a passenger jet. My small Swiss army knife was instantly transformed from a personal convenience to a deadly weapon for terrorist use. Racial profiling became a very real law enforcement technique. And I can't get on a plane without taking my shoes off at the terminal.
Is this our normal life? Am I safer in my flight because my family and friends can't come and meet me at the gate? How has America gotten through 70 years of commercial flight without needing machine guns at every terminal? Are someone's socks really a threat to the lives of everybody on that plane?
As if this wasn't enough, our leaders drafted and almost unanimously passed the USA Patriot Act, 342 pages of knee-jerk legislation which has been adequately covered by this publication. For our own good, they removed any privacy that we think we have in favor of allowing the government to take any measures it deems necessary to discern any malicious intent any of us may harbor. I believe that all who study this act will be stunned at the constitutional rights the act takes away.
I don't want to be that safe. And an event occurring doesn't necessarily make it any more likely to occur in the future. Someone blowing up a plane doesn't mean that "people blow up planes now." I don't expect it. I am not afraid of it. And no amount of gun-toting servicemen or phone-tapping FBI agents will make me less afraid.
No amount of security is worth my freedoms, nor is it worth my ability to lead a comfortable, normal life. We have no alternative but to build our world to accommodate normal people. We can and should take reasonable precautions to protect ourselves from the dangerously insane. I think metal detectors are a great idea. But at some point we have done all that we can reasonably be expected to do and can only hope for the best.
For over 200 years, people have been giving their lives to obtain and protect necessary freedoms for the people of this country; because freedom is possibly the only commodity more precious than life itself.
Are you alluding to the Patriot Act? Have you even read it? They need a court order and sufficient "proof" before they can check your records, and do you know how many times they've used it so far? Well, the answer is... Zero. None. Not once.
So.. would you mind if my illegal alien friend Ahmed goes to your Church when youre there and blows himself up sometime? How about next Sunday?
That is unknown. Such info is unavailable.
But you can speculate whether Hillary will use it in the future.
thoughtomator wroteYou are thinking exactly how the government wants you to think, and exactly opposite to the way a freedom loving individual thinks.
If it does not act to stop our enemies from killing us, what reason does government have to exist?
As a freedom loving individual, I realize that my own safety is ultimately my responsibility. It is also my responsibility (and the responsibility of every able bodied citizen) to defend my neighbors, my state and my country. To do this, we do delegate (not abdicate, delegate) some authority and responsibility to police and to a national defense (army, navy, etc.). However, the police have the responsibility and authority because individuals like you and me delegated that authority. The don't get that authority from "the government."
Mohammed says his profound most sincere thank you.
Note two meg file but well worth it.
http://www.rustfreetrucks.com/stuff1/Iraqilawyermohammedgohome.mp3
cut and paste
Do you really go through life terrified someone is looking to end your life? Good grief!
If you are an example of the kind of neurotic that American citizens have become, they are not worth saving. They've already lost their lives to pathological fear, and are willing sell out all freedom for a little of government brand "security."
When someone has to show their bare feet in public before being allowed to board an airplane, their privacy has been invaded (to say nothing of having their insides viewed by strangers.)
Hank
Not exactly true since you need a court order in order to do a search of records.
BTW, you need nothing more than a court order (pre-9/11) in order to execute a search of an apartment, etc. Is that equally offensive ?
The left is your enemy
So long as you don't mind a .45 round in the forehead.
After he clubs you on the head and steals your wallet, he'll then steal your .45, your SUV, and your pet dog, as well.
They won't. They will lose; they can't win. But, it is better to end the battle by destroying these enemies of freedom now than to win anyway in a few hundred more years.
The only Democrap in the cabinet is Minetta, and hes at Dept of Transportation. You can thank him for the mindless "search everyone", "equality of suspicion" mentality over there. I suspect a more rational , less PC approach might be forthcoming if he were to "leave" after this term (heres hoping).
I find this amazing. What exactly is your point on that? I don't want to be accused of putting words into your mouth.
Heres what I propose to remedy the situation.
Create a new airline, call it Freedom Air.
No metal detectors, no screeners, no hassles whatsoever. Guns, explosive devices, knives, scissors, box cutters, shoe bombs, zip guns, etc... all welcome.
Then all the whiners can fly themselves and their families on it after signing a legally binding document that absolves the airline and the US government from all liability in case of a terrorist incident.
Course you may have trouble rounding up enough suicidal pilots and flight attendants but at least the whiners would shut their pie holes...permanently.
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