Posted on 09/24/2001 4:24:58 PM PDT by Rebeckie
Unfree Republic
by Jeff Elkins
Let the stench of Middle East flesh reach Paradise reassuring them that these filth have gone to hell permanently."
The quote above is representative of many posted on the FreeRepublic.com site in the wake of the WTC attack, and unfortunately its like is not uncommon elsewhere. Americans are angry, predictably and rightly so, but just as predictable are the side effects. As always, that righteous anger will be accepted as a beloved gift by the state and molded into tools of oppression.
Its funny how that works. Every single state-sponsored war the US has become embroiled in has resulted in an inexorable increase in the power of the state.
Its also funny that its always assumed that human behavior in the past has no relation to how we behave today. Why those people were old-fashioned, were modern, educated, etc.
The beginning of this repeating pattern has already become public with the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. It has an ominous sound, that name, almost Germanic. (I cant wait to see the uniforms.)
On April 13, 1917, days after our entry into World War One, President Wilson created the Committee on Public Information to promote the war domestically while publicizing American war aims abroad. Bush has replicated that step, with this new cabinet-level department.
Under the leadership of journalistic muckraker George Creel, the CPI was a propaganda apparatus unparalleled at that point in world history. The CPI functioned as a de facto public censor, vetting nearly all published material about the war and helping to draft legislation such as the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918. In the months prior to our entry into the war and especially after our entry when they were nearly criminal, antiwar viewpoints were rarely heard.
The same pattern emerges now: Penn. Gov. Tom Ridge will be President Bushs George Creel, and just as in those dim days of yesteryear, hell have plenty of willing civilian accomplices. And after all, theres so much more to censor -- Ridge will need all the help he can get. In seeking warriors for the front line of Internet censorship, Ridge needs look no farther than FreeRepublic.com. The atmosphere there is now poisonous.
Again, look back to Wilson's CPI. It encouraged businesses to spy on their employees, parents to spy on their children, children to spy on their parents, neighbors to spy on neighbors, and above all to report "disloyal," pro-German sentiments. State authorities banned the teaching of German in schools and changed German street names. As the madness mounted, those regarded as pro-German were hounded from their jobs, pressured to change their German names, beaten, and in a few cases lynched. Almost all cases of violence, while incited by the state, were carried out by "civilians" in the grip of war hysteria.
Along with this anti-German hysteria, Congress passed several measures designed to rigidly suppress criticism of the war. In particular, the Espionage Act, passed in June 1917, specified a fine of $10,000 or twenty years in prison for "whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, and whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag."
The Espionage Act was very popular in its day. It was cheered on by mindless lemmings under the influence of state propaganda. Their great grandchildren now inhabit FreeRepublic.com, viciously attacking anyone who questions the wisdom of the state.
Our Congress is considering similar measures under the rubric of "anti-terrorism," and as it was at the beginning of the 20th Century, the FreeRepublic lemmings of the 21st are cheering the morally corrupt politicians along.
Its not just message posters on the site. The management of FreeRepublic has instituted a "loose lips sink ships" campaign, with new moderators patrolling the forum to delete posts that in their opinion are detrimental to the "war effort."
The FreeRepublic mission statement claims "We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America."
Sanctimonious hogwash. Everything old is new again the keyboard warriors of FreeRepublic would be right at home in 1917 shilling for Wilson.
September 24, 2001
Too bad. Maybe you need to move outta the Sears shadow before someone, you are too big a coward to stop, drops a building on you.
What ARE you willing to do in a time of war ? If you are told that there has to be a curfew, would you stay outside anyway ? What about blackouts, as during WW2 ? Should it be necessary to have wardens, capatains, and block watches, would you call them " brown shirts " or Nazis ?
I'd have to know what the reasons are for these things. If we started having curfews, blackouts tomorrow I would be a little curious. Is there any freedom YOU wouldn't be willing to voluntarily throw out the window, no questions asked, under the pretext of "war"?
We DO know that if the CIA and our intelligence capabilities hadn't been strangled for so many years, this attack might have somehow been averted .
The CIA, is not a DOMESTIC agency, so much for your Homeland Security claim. These murderers should not have EVEN been IN the country in the first place if we took our borders seriously, all their Visas had expired. If we didn't have a kindergarten level of airport security, these men wouldn't have even made it on the airplane.
No one knows just what exactly the new cabinet post of Homeland Security means , nor what it will do. We DO know that if the CIA and our intelligence capabilities hadn't been strangled for so many years, this attack might have somehow been averted . Yes, spying is a " dirty " business, but being murdered by terrorists curtails freedom more than any government does.
This is irrelevent to the statements I made. I have no problem with the CIA spying. Where are you getting this?
Oh, and this is NOT a time when Franklin's little phrase is applicable.
Oh, and your judgement is probably best applied to a discussion of Ms. America pagent evening dresses.
I reread your post.
That's not a bad thing. I wouldn't want you to miss anything.
I find it sickening.
That's your visceral response. It is what it is. I hope you feel better soon.
I find your attitude disgusting.
That's your opinion and you're entitled to it.
I live 1 mile from the Pentagon.
I'm not sure if you're very brave or not too bright. During times of war the Pentagon is considered by our enemy as a military target. You should pay special attention to what actions are going to be taken against any real or perceived enemies because there's a good chance that that repercussions could be coming right back at ya. If you think your life is going to be threatened by some major error in judgment by the leaders of our country I suggest you speak your mind.
Maybe people in Chicago should grow freakin up.
Exactly. That's my point. I'd like to see the neighbors' little kids grow up and not become casualties of a big mistake made in Washington. There's already been far too many casualties around the world created by mistakes made in Washington. I suppose we could shrug off the occassional asprin factory or Albanian refugee column or Serbian passenger train full of civilians when the mistakes don't kill our people, but we'd better pay very close attention if a mis-step puts our civilians at risk.
We here in Washington are pissed.
Well there certainly is a lot to be pissed about but you weren't very specific about just what it is that you're pissed about so I won't specificly comment on that sentance.
Justice must be done.
No argument from me there. I reserve the right to comment and even diseagree with just what sort of "justice" is to be dealt out. Sorry, but I'm kind of American that way.
One of my coworkers is DEAD.
That's horrible. We've all been deeply touched and heartbroken by the horrific tragedy of 9/11. There is now a collective puddle of tears at our feet that connects us all in ways that many will never realise. I'll say a prayer for your fallen co-worker. Memory Eternal.
Get a clue, and don't act like a scared chicken.
I want several clues as to what actions will be taken in my name.
Scared? Hmmm... I don't think that that's the correct word. I'd say I'm more concerned about my friends and family. I'm not afraid to die and haven't been for years. I am a little worried about all the sheep that want me to just follow the United States government into whatever aspect of the battle they want to engage in without me being allowed to ask questions.
I must insist on a reply here, otherwise I will FReepmail you with this post.
Well, you got your reply.
EVERY American butt is on the line buddy, and will stay on the line for a long time...
Our only chance for survival as a nation, and as a people, is to be the ones left standing after the fight. The surest way to get Chicago terrorized is to not fight tooth and nail.
The rest of us out in flyover realize we need Chicago as bad as Chicago needs us.
The only thing the "executive order" ordered was joint training between the nation guard and local law Enforcement...
Nothing about activating the guard in the state or marshal law like you claimed.
Either you're purposely trying to misrepresent what was said or you chose not to read it.
We are at war. Our survival may be at stake.
To date I have not seen the President abuse those powers. When and if he does we have an obligation to discuss it and do what's in our power to correct it.
All this hand ringing of what he might do is a waste of time and resources.
If Bill Maher wants to pay the network time for his speech himself then fine. That's his right. Blather on
Hey I have an idea, why don't you send in your money to pay for his "free" speech?
However, I specifically didn't like your city versus country argument. It's pointless and has no merit. You somehow seem to feel that those that live in the countryside are more bloodthirsty than those in the city because they have no danger attached to their lives. That's where the anger came from. People that live in the country aren't all redneck bloodthirsty hicks, any more than all people who live in cities are prima donna cosmopolitans.
I've lived near the Pentagon for over 10 years. I refuse to move out of my home because of a terrorist attack. That's neither smart or stupid. It is what it is. I happen to live there. Circumstances worked that way, and thus I'm there. Just as people happen to live in London during the blitz, and on and on. Should people have their living arrangements dictated to them by terrorists?
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