Stop. Think. Freedom is worth the risk.
A controversial statement no doubt, but enough. Why since 9/11 has the strongest/bravest country in the world become totally cowardly in the face of comparatively little risk? A powerful and vocal significant portion of our country has made the decision to trade our liberties and rights in the name of “safety” or “protection” or most ironically to “product our country and what it stands for.”
Need examples?
Let’s start with what it takes to board an airplane these days. While we complain and “joke” about the silliness that is the TSA, what are we giving up? Stop and think about the required information you now must provide to purchase a plane ticket? Soon we are now going to allow ourselves to be scanned via x-ray to make sure we are not the next underwear bomber. 3 oz of liquid only, thorough searches, no jackets, please examine and look through my stuff.
The misnomer that is the Patriot Act. Title II amongst other things allows the US government to gather “foreign intelligence information” from both US and non-US citizens. It removed the requirement to prove that the target under FISA is a non-US Citizen. “Sneak and peek” allows a search and capture of your communications prior to notification that you are under a search warrant.
Title III of the Patriot Act requires financial institutions to report suspicious transactions. These institutions are required to establish anti-money laundering programs and report to the government potential or suspicious transactions.
And now SB 1070 in Arizona. I do not believe there is any argument that immigration reform needs to be a high priority for our government. I do believe there is an honest and reasonable conversation and debate as to whether this is a federal only area of regulation or federal and state joint area of regulation. Border states clearly have more at stake (in personal security and financial security) than those in the geographic center of our country. Many provisions of SB 1070 are unique and frankly interesting vectors to attack the problem. Requiring papers of citizens is not it. The burden is fully on our fellow citizens. Face it if you are illegal, there is no burden to make sure you have papers. It is the legal individuals that must stress and worry that they don’t forget. Otherwise they risk being treated clearly as if they are not citizens. I do not care that it only can be used if “you are stopped, detained, etc for some other infraction.” Nor do I claim that a majority or even a significant minority of law enforcement personal would abuse this provision. But just the fact that as a legal US citizen I could be asked for proof of my residency or my papers by a police officer is chilling.
Since 9/11/2001 we now must report to the government when we travel. In order to fly, we must be fully open to a complete search of all our possessions and our entire body. Our conversations whether by voice or by electronic means, can now be captured, stored, examined by my government. I am now required to report on fellow US citizens if I have a reasonable suspicion they MAY be doing something illegal. And in Arizona (if the law was allowed to be fully implemented), I could be asked for my papers.
Read that last paragraph slowly. Tell the government prior to travel. Allow them to look through all your possessions and completely examine your body. Tell on your fellow citizens. Be prepared to present your papers.
These are cold war era type government regulations. Of the Eastern Bloc.
I vividly remember 9/11. April waking me up and telling me what she saw on TV. I remember the utter and complete fear that one of my best friend’s in the world may have been in or near the Pentagon. Literal tears running down my face as the towers fell. The phone ringing as my reserve unit was called. I remember the anger, the desire for total and complete revenge. That no one should be able to do this to our country, MY country.
I served over 6 years in the Navy to fight for every right we have. While it was a small part, I did it to the very best of my ability.
Privacy. Presumption of innocence. Freedom from government tyranny.
Why are we so willing to give it up over fear? We are a much stronger country than this. All of this in the name of fear that another terrorist attack may occur here. Fear that illegal immigrants will bankrupt our country. I promise you, your money, your house, your safety is worth NOTHING without freedom.
Stop. Think.
It takes much more courage to defend the individual’s right to burn the flag than it does to ban gasoline and matches from all to prevent someone from doing it in the first place.
Let me be very clear. I am not saying we have become a communist nation. Just that our knee jerk response to these issues have put in places laws that need to be re-evaluated, re-examined and frankly some of them repealed.
