I just watched my last episode of CSI. I sort of went off it about a year ago when I realised each episode was stoking fear. Fear that if you have sex you'll be killed. Fear that if you live in the suburbs you'll be killed. Fear that if you enjoy swimming you'll be killed. Fear.
Tonight I was afraid. At the end when the suspect is confronted with having killed a former gang member he is told, "Under the Patriot Act this is your last hour of freedom. What do you want to do?" Cut to a scene of a little girl being reassured that she won't have to testify in court, that there is no need for a trial because the suspect will be sent away "for life for sedition".
Ah! Happy ending! They got the bad guys, right? Wrong. The bad guys got us.
If Americans really believe the bad guys are Al Qaeda and not the assholes in Congress and the White House who are erasing the Constitution then we all should be afraid.
One thing I know tonight is that I'm not watching CSI anymore and I'm not travelling to America unless it is absolutely essential. Your country scares the shit out of me.
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