i was born in 1950. reared in the shadow of world war II & smack in the middle of the cold war. we americans had the gestapo & kgb to contrast to our free & open society. it was the shining example of our liberty & a source of national pride that citizens of the united states would never allow secret police or domestic spying. there must be something wrong with those russians. how deficient in character were the people of germany to allow themselves to be cowed into accepting secret police?
the phenomenon of secret police & of government surveillance of its citizenry is not new. there is a constancy in its inception & a predictability in its development. no people on the planet have ever just thought "wouldn't it be great to have somebody keeping me in line." insecurity & fear are the soil that this seed germinates in & false patriotism is what waters the weed as it grows.
intuitively & on a gut level, most americans understand that no administration is to be confused with the nation. patriotism is love of one's country & not fealty to government officials. in the united states of america this is absolutely core to our principles & essential to our freedom. it is the essence of the bill of rights - distrust of government.
therefore, i reject out of hand, any legislation that limits my rights to free speech or assembly, especially if it dares to call itself a "patriot act." i further accuse any individual or group who would formulate or even condone the establishment of extra judicial, secret police or surveillance of being anti-american & in fact, traitors.
clandestine domestic spying & the agencies that service & sustain it are not temporary. they are the germs of something so foul & pernicious to the american character that they & those that would plant them, must be rooted quickly out.
citizens, patriots, it is time to reach for the hoe, the pitchfork & the torch.