Polyamory
I've found a bit of motiviation for this page. Check this out: http://pennandteller.com/sincity/penniphile/federalvip.html
This is the kind of thing that just seriously irritates the crap out of me. Yes, terrorists hijacked plans on 09/11/01. Yes, a lot of people were killed. Yes, it was a horrible tragedy.
No, I don't think that makes it OK to turn the US into a version of Communist Russia (The USSR to be more exact.) It's baloney. It hooey. It's whatever silly-butt name you wanna call it.
But, it's happening. Regularly. Here in the Good 'Ol "FREE" US of A. Free-est country in the world? Not anymore! Damn, I wish that I still had this article that I wrote about Flag Burning and how important civil liberties are. It's be perfect here!
Flag Burning, Gay Rights, Neo-Nazi Rights, Adoption Rights, Abortion Rights, Privacy Rights, Religious Freedom (Even for those I personally dislike!), Freedom of Speech (Again, even for those that I persoanlly dislike!). It's all the same basic issue. Where does the government have the right to stick it's nose in?
But, "Essential Liberties" is where it really gets me after 9/11. The government does *not* have the right to monitor where and when I travel unless they have properly proven me to be a possible threat. I add my voice to the rest out there that say "We need to REPEAL THE AMERICAN PATRIOT ACT." These voices include the entire City of Oakland, CA -- whose city council adopted a resolution encourage Congress to repeal this act.
Nothing we do, especially in relation to our Airports is going to make us safer. There will always be a way. (Especially with Airports!) Now, we have the "Illusion" of being safer when we fly. And we have the "Illusion" of having safer borders by abridging the rights of other people.
Once upon a time, I got into this discussion about the civil rights/liberties of non-US citizens. And it was pointed out to me that a lot of the people being detained and tapped, etc are *not* American citizens and therefore do not have the same rights to Civil Liberties that we do. But, then I thought "Huh?" You mean that when our founding fathers stated "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
ALL MEN. And I'll take that to mean ALL PEOPLE. How is it that other nationalities do not have the right to what we consider basic civil liberties? Do we really want to treat these people in the same manner that their governments do -- as if they somehow are not deserving of the basic rights that we hold so dear?
And what's up with this whole "Go Home" attitude? See the cartoon at the top of this page!
Get a clue. Treat people the way that you want to be treated. Make government that holds this ideal close to their hearts. Maybe I should move to Switzerland. They seem to hold it dear.