Hello:
When the maker of a product I used to use came out with a "new and improved" version, I stopped using it... After all, I believed them when they told me it was the best... But, now they're telling me noooo, there IS something better, we have it, and it's the best. Well, I don't know know about you, but I ain't buying it.
I was told by my government that I was safe. But now, after the new and improved security procedures were put in place, I find out that I'm BETTER than safe. But, isn't "safe" kind of like pregnant? You either are or you aren't... Well, it turns out, we weren't. So, all those times you took off your shoes and let some stranger put his hands on your body, it was just for show. As it turns out, you weren't safe at all. And, if you think you're safe NOW, just wait until they find a new and improved security measure..
But, this stuff is our own fault... We believe, like children, that the government CAN keep us safe, that they CAN rid the country of drugs, that they CAN keep illegals out of the country, that they CAN protect children from predators... if only we cracked down..
Those are allusive goals. They can't be obtained no matter how much we crack down. That has to be painfully obvious even to the most ardent drug warriors, or airplane passengers amongst you.
But, the joke's on us. It turns out, the ONLY victims of the crack down, are ourselves. We're the ones who're losing our freedoms, in the name of "cracking down". The most physical manifestation of those losses are the airports... But, of course, we've lost a great deal MORE freedoms than the ones you can SEE.
Do I think we should do NOTHING in the face of our threats?? I think we should do the RIGHT thing in response to our threats... Locking us down further isn't it.
As a matter of fact, the term "locking down" is an old prison term. The only people who would be aware of it, are those who've been "locked down", and you have, haven't you?? Yes, you have - in your schools, in your neighborhoods, in your airports, and in your country...
I first became aware of this backwards phenomenon the first time I was in the slam... A couple convicts had a fight, which isn't a strange occurrence in the joint... What was strange, is that they "locked down" the whole prison for two days... I don't know why they thought punishing ALL of us was a good response to what happened... I guess they thought if they "cracked down", it would stop something or other...
THAT thinking has invaded our country from top to bottom. It's pervasive, it's dangerous, and it MUST be stamped out.
excon