Don't follow blindly, ask questions (BARF Alert - 'I'll feel bad if we WIN the war?')

LOGAN, Utah -- Nothing like a good war to bring us all together. Suddenly we are patriotic Americans, gathering beneath our new flags and rallying behind our cause. I've heard many folks say we've got to be united, that during this time of crisis we should put our differences aside and support our president. I could not disagree more.

Now is not the time to blindly follow anyone, especially not our leaders. If anything, we should be extra wary of our government lest we follow it down a dark alley and end up in a long-term war with no exit strategy or realistic chance of victory. We should question every statement made by the officials, from the lowest of talking heads all the way up to the president himself. Most importantly, we must question any law which attempts to increase police powers by ignoring the Bill of Rights.

It's funny what fear will do to a society. Suddenly our rookie president has an approval rate of 85 percent, the highest since his daddy ushered in the New World Order back in 1991 when he "liberated" Kuwait. I imagine old Adolph Hitler enjoyed his wave of popularity back in 1940 when the war was fresh and victory seemed imminent. I'll even wager that Stalin was deified during the siege of Stalingrad, despite his penchant for murdering his own citizens. Under no circumstances should we bow down to our leaders and do whatever they say, not during times of crisis and certainly not during times of war.

War is not a word to be used lightly, yet our government uses the term like the latest slang: "War" on poverty, "war" on communism, "war" on drugs, "war" on terrorism. How many rights have we already given up in the name of these wars? Confiscation of property before trial. Random roadblocks and searches on our own highways. Peeing in a cup in exchange for a low-paying job at the treadmill factory. These kinds of intrusions will undoubtedly get worse as we gear up for "a new kind of war," one which promises world unity but will result in a global police state.

Paranoid you say? These terrorists operate in separate groups and are scattered throughout some 60 countries, including the good old USA. Tracking them down is hard enough, and actual arrest will be even harder. The only way this "Operation Enduring Freedom" will succeed is if our government puts the entire planet under surveillance and forces other nations to open their borders to our military. All avenues of communication will be monitored. Cash will be replaced by a universal debit card. All modes of travel will involve searches and questioning: Where do you live? Do you have a full-time job? Where are you going and why? National identification cards will be issued, drug tests will be implemented, and armed guards will become a common sight.

If all this sounds absurd, I agree. But ask yourself this question: How else do you bring an end to terrorism? There's a lot of folks left out of the global political process, and they will use any means necessary to get us to hear what they have to say. If we lose this war, then more Americans may lose their lives in future attacks. But if we win, then prepare to accept that mark on your forehead, because a victory in this war means there is no place left to hide from the watchful eye of our kinder, gentler, global Gestapo.

True freedom and total security cannot co-exist. Either we accept the fact the world is not a perfect place and do our best to make it better, or we turn responsibility for our existence over to someone else so we can be "safe" from savage acts of terrorism. As for me, I think Mr. Henry summed it up quite nicely: "Give me liberty, or give me death."

Mr. Clayton, where do we start. I know, how about the fact that we didn't declare on anyone until some @sshole Terrorists flew into the WTC buildings & killed thousands & damn near toppled the economy of the World.

First off for every American killed I think a thousand of their people should die, they are the enemy they hate us and they will never stop till we destroy them. We have to implement some new Security measures you idiot, we're at War for Gods sake. Get a frigging brain you moron. It's a good thing you & people like you speak out and let us know just how anti-American you are so that you can be treated like the dumb-@ss that you obviously are.

So, you would have no problem if our government said we need increased warrantless surveillance, wiretap and email interception. Or maybe a national ID card system or required registration with the city in which you currently live? How about a complete free-flow of your information from the banks, schools and companies you're involved with straight to the government?

If you're a patriot then you shouldn't mind any of these intrustions, since it's what the government said is needed to win the war.

Sorry, I for one am going to at least in part do what the author says and question my government, especially in a time like this.

This just goes to show just how cowardly you and others like you are. No one said not to fight this war, and not to win against the Al Quida(spelling?).

People like you run around calling real Americans who fight for "FREEDOM" anti-American. Then even worse support and even speak "Take this freedom and that freedom, and not just mine, but his and his and his.....becuase 'We're at war!!'." It's not because we're at war, it is becuase you and others like you are scared of dying and have been completely inundated with the Nanny State where someone else has the responsibility of taking care of you.

I'd rather be carrying a gun and have everyone else carrying a gun, and anyone who shows a bomb or trys to hijack an airplane gets immeadiatly shot!! So what if a few innocents die. At least they died free instead of living like a slave having their cars seached just driving around from place to place or having to explain their existence to some power hungry jack booted thug who thrives on fear.

If "terrorists" are here to change America from its foundation of freedom, who are the terrorists, the people who are fighting for their inalienable rights or those who are trying to subvert them?

I'll even wager that Stalin was deified during the siege of Stalingrad, despite his penchant for murdering his own citizens

Of course he was, for if you spoke out against him you would have been included in those millions.

Oh, and American liberals supported him and defend him to this day.

First off I am not for everything that the government want's to do, I am for what has to be done. Do I want check points at every intersection of every state & new national I.D. cards? No. Do I want to be pissed tested every week? No. But do we have to set up some guidelines & new rules to stop the Scumbag Terrorists from killing more of our people? Your damn right we do, I don't care if a few Arabic people have to show their I.D.'s a little more often? What ya'll don't seem to understand is that it is Us against Them and as for being a coward, I wouldn't back down from a chainsaw jack. If you want some I'll give you directions come get some.

I wasn't referencing starting a fight...Many fights are fought out of cowardace.

Anyway back to the main subject. Almost everything that has been done is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Doesn't matter if you agree with it or not. This nation was not created for Mob rule on how the Mob feels. It was founded on individual freedeom and responsibility.

Once they:

Lock Down the Borders.(Which they REFUSE to do)

Kick out All the illegal aliens

Recheck every legal alien

Tighten up our Immigration criteria

Remove the NG from the airports and put either the Army or Coastguard at all Interantional "Gates"

and most of all encourage all Citizins to exercise their Right to keep and BEAR arms for the public safety (instead of doing the exact opposite like they have been)

Then and only they can we talk about any further actions

I think that the things you listed are practical precautionary measures that are not being done & they should. It's amazing that you & I can agree on so much, yet disagree totally about the war effort. I am in no way promoting a Police State, I am 100% in favor of the 2nd ammendment but most of all I am a Patriot.

HII, Webster New Collegiate Dictionary, Copyright 1975. Patriot: one who loves his country and zealously supports its authority and interests. Idiot: a feebleminded person having a mental age not exceeding three years and requiring complete custodial care. Since the authority in this country is the Constitution, and ultimately the people, your post demonstrates who the real idiot is. One wonders why you so ardently defend the second amendment when you do not seem too interested in any of the others.

An idiot is somebody that thinks we should do nothing while Terrorists kill our people. I am for the Constitution 100%, but somethings have to change if we're going to lock the Terrorist out of our country & close in on the ones already here. I don't want to give up my individual rights anymore than you do but at least I can see that we have a problem that the status quo just isn't going to handle.

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