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Tuesday, May 16, 2006

"The Land of the Cowed and the Home of the Silent"

Where is the outrage? Why don't we care that we're sacrificing liberty for "security"?

Even with the latest polls, a bare majority seems to be concerned about NSA and the telephone database. Ever since 9/11, we've been subject to more and more restriction of our personal freedom and most of our citizenry has yawned and turned to the comics, the sports page, or the latest "reality" show. We have the attention span of a gnat.

How many even bother to vote?

The 4th Amendment, our right to be secure from unreasonable search and seizure, has been dismantled, a little at a time. The Constitution itself is under constant attack and the 1st Amendment is in jeopardy.

The quote in the title is from Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Constitution, reprinted in Common Dreams today.

posted by Granny @ 5/16/2006 04:09:00 AM  

10 Comments:

  • At Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:19:00 AM , Blogger Muslim Unity said...

    The airport security is also very racist. People with beards and who look Muslim are checked more than somebody who is white. This is very sad. We should treat everybody as equals, don't you'll feel that too my dear friends?

     

  • At Tuesday, May 16, 2006 10:53:00 AM , Blogger achromic said...

    I think those of us that do care, need to until the rest of america wakes up. They are in a bad dream and they don't even know it. I am so so very sad.

     

  • At Tuesday, May 16, 2006 11:10:00 AM , Blogger peppylady (Dora) said...

    Your not a kidding about loosing our rights. personal I'm sicken tired of Dubya playing the fear card.
    He been using the fear card since 9-11.

     

  • At Tuesday, May 16, 2006 4:39:00 PM , Blogger ............... said...

    Even before I became a Muslim, MU, when I was at the airport on my out of the States to go to Egypt, I was "randomly" picked for a search of every little piece of my luggage. A woman traveling alone to Egypt with large bags scared them, I guess.

     

  • At Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:06:00 PM , Blogger Granny said...

    Karim and Denise/Muslim Unity

    Thanks for your comments and no, I don't believe in singling people out but realistically, I'm sure it happens.

    I've been surfing through your 3 blogs. Nice work on all of them.

    Ann

     

  • At Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:43:00 PM , Blogger achromic said...

    I wonder why ..... why anyone of a enthnicsty (is that a word.... I am trying to figure out how to be PC but I think I am failing) or belief would stay in the USA with its Xenophobia. I don't know how ..... how you can stand it. If I had kids I would leave..... but since I don't I feel duty bound to stay and try and help just a little bit.

     

  • At Wednesday, May 17, 2006 6:49:00 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

    Due to my mixed potpourri of racial and ethnic genetic input, I am often regarded as Everywoman of the World. In every country I have visited, I have been mistaken for a native of that country and addressed in that language. Even fellow Americans, tour book in hand and stumbling over translations have haltingly attempted to ask questions and been embarrassed and surprised when I replied to them in perfect Tex-American English. Here in my native land I am often approached by Hispanics and addressed in Spanish. Unfortunately I have forgotten most of the Tex-Mex Spanish I once knew - if you don't use it, you lose it.

    I have rarely been hassled at entry ports, but then I have not traveled overseas since 9/11 and the change in the international political climate.

    Once, at a (bilingual) Arabic port I was regarded suspiciously by an officer who demanded to know if I had guns. At that time of my life I was probably more proficient in hand gun usage than he, but I feigned astonishment and replied, "Moi? Je suis une femme!" (Me? I am a woman!") and looked with a show of trepidation at his huge automatic snuggled against his hip. His macho pride massaged, he chuckled indulgently and waved me on. Another time upon re-entry to an Arabic country after a Christmas shopping expedition in France I was held for hours by Customs rifling through certain travelers' luggage, but they were seeking forbidden imports or taxable items not declared.

    The only time I was hassled because of my race was in France by an anti-American Frenchman. My baby-talk French was insufficient to respond to his interrogation and he continued his torment until my companion, who was fluent in French, intervened with a rapid fire spate of protestations and after a loud, angry exchange the Frenchman let me go. I might add here, that in all my trips to France all other Frenchmen were friendly and hospitable to me.

    When moving about in an Arab nation I was often mistaken as an Arab woman by security personnel and my Arab companion, who was a blue eyed blonde, was mistaken for an American. It amused him greatly and he was always able to clear me by responding to the guards in perfect Arabic. This sort of thing was not a security problem but rather a cultural violation of a supposedly shameless, barefaced (unveiled) Arab woman running around with a supposed Western man.

    As few and mild as these incidents were, I have an idea of how it must be for those who are singled out because of their racial appearance or their surnames and I well sympathize with them.

    It is ironic that some members of the 9/11 horror were identified and reported by FBI officials to their superiors prior to 9/11, who did nothing about the reports and yet were subseqently praised and reported by Guess Who?

    In spite of BushCo's assertions that their invasion of our telecommunication privacy has averted terrorist plots, other reports insist that not one single plot has been uncovered by this means. Consider: the terrorist organizations are NOT STUPID!! They are well aware of the monitoring and would not communicate sensitive information via this manner. This is merely a ploy by our government to gain control of the citizens of this country.

     

  • At Wednesday, May 17, 2006 9:30:00 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

    PS: error = "...praised and REPORTED by.." Should have been "...praised and PROMOTED by..."

    Consistent with Bush's habit of installing and rewarding incompetents.

    Peppylady: Thank you for visiting us. We welcome comments and input. However, please be aware that I had trouble accessing your blog.
    Granny and I like to return visits to the blogs of our visitors, but clicking on the title "Blog" of your blog was unproductive. Do you need to correct something with Blogger?

     

  • At Wednesday, May 17, 2006 9:44:00 AM , Blogger Granny said...

    I'll try a blog search but don't know if it will help.

    Peppy Lady, please get back to us with your url. We'll visit.

    Ann

     

  • At Wednesday, May 17, 2006 4:00:00 PM , Blogger Sothis said...

    Pan et circuses--the old Roman trick for keeping the masses happy. In the U.S., it's more like Big Macs and Reality TV. I bet more people could tell you who was the last person kicked off American Idol than could tell you who their Senators are or Congressional Rep is, let alone if they are registered to vote. If the government isn't going after them they are silent. Martin Niemöller's poem (First they came for...) is as poignant today as it was when it was written.

     

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