OT: Here we go again ...

[Ted Ozolins]

Kurt Wall wrote:
> Quoth Collins Richey:
> 
>>On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 09:34:28 -0500
>>"David A. Bandel" <david at pananix.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 07:21:25 -0500
>>>Michael Hipp <Michael at hipp.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>[snip]
>>>
>>>>But I'm dreaming again. If that flagship of New Americanism (Dept. of 
>>>>Homeland Implosion) can't see it, then likely will few others.
>>>
>>>You're scary.  Is this what Americans (US Citizens in this context)
>>>think of this Homeland Security thing?  If so, holy fsck.
>>>
>>>Homeland Security, since its inception, has looked and sounded like a
>>>new Nazi SS.  I didn't server 20 years in the US Military to have the US
>>>turned into a police state, but it looks more and more like that every
>>>day.
>>>
>>>To wit:
>>>The feds had been after a major drug manufacturer (a chemist who was
>>>making crack, etc, in large quantities).  I agree he should be jailed
>>>forever.  But ...
>>>The feds couldn't catch him under the normal rules, so they relabeled
>>>him a chemical weapons manufacturer and grabbed him under the new
>>>anti-terrorism laws.
>>>
>>>I'm sorry, but this abuse of power by power-hungry agencies is way
>>>beyond reasonable.  While I'm glad the bastard?s in jail, I'm extremely
>>>unhappy with the way he got there.  Welcome to the Police State of
>>>America (where you might be next for using Linux instead of M$).  I
>>>expect the RIAA will start pushing to label file sharers as terrorists
>>>next.
>>>
>>>I'm appalled and disgusted and glad to be living outside the US at this
>>>point in time.
>>>
>>
>>While I respect your opinion, I find it to be rather simplistic.
> 
> 
> "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
>         -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759
> 
> And, to quote Harry Emerson Fosdick, "Liberty is always dangerous, but it
> is the safest thing we have."
> 
> 
>>Here's my own.  I wish that I lived in a time and place where Homeland Security
>>were not necessary.  I have yet to hear about (and I doubt that I will) of any
>>actions taken by Homeland Security that have a negative effect on average, peace
>>loving, hard working citizens.  If the new law of the land means that we now
>>have additional tools to eliminate the scum of the earth (the chemist fits the
>>description), that's great. 
> 
> 
> Those same tools are *already* being used to erode your liberty and
> your privacy. One example: http://www.dontspyon.us/jetbluescandal.html
> And the guvmint is *already* lying about it.
> 
> 
>>If the Homeland Security guys want my library usage record, they are welcome to
>>it- mystery readers have little to fear. Somehow I doubt that a library reader
>>whose only straying from the fold is to read a bomb making manual has nothing to
>>fear.   
So if I read books on weapons, tactics and demolition I'm straying from 
the fold? I'm well capable of designing and contructing explosive 
devices that could level the better part of a city block. By using a 
wrist watch capable of storing dates and events could even set it up to 
go off a year from now. Does that then mean that I should fall to the US 
SS? There are a lot of law abiding citezens on both sides of the border 
that have taken an interest in various military hardware. Does that then 
justify wire-tapping and other violations of our rights?
> 
> And next you'll tell me that I have something to hide if I invoke the
> 5th Amendment. Bah.


> 
> They haven't, yet. The SS didn't immediately go out and start cracking
> heads. I'm not going to wait around for my government to do something
> like that. I fight to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Both of my parents saw the worst of WWI and WWII and first hand 
witnessed the glory of the SS. Its almost funny how those that will 
violate or agree to violate someones rights always tote the "if you have 
nothing to hide" crap. I see now being reported by the news media that 
Bush has asked for even greater powers to be given to the SS so that 
they no longer need a court order to arrest and detain anyone suspected 
of terrorist involvement. If that is granted then I feel sorry for 
anyone with darker skin living in the USA for their rights will be shit on.

-- 
Ted Ozolins (VE7TVO)
Westbank, B. C.