more on worth reading more on .sig file I just received]]

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [IP] worth reading more on .sig file I just received]
Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 21:32:42 -0500
From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk () gsp org>
To: Gene Spafford <spaf () cerias purdue edu>
CC: David Farber <dave () farber net>
References: <44073B01.8060304 () farber net>

On Thu, Mar 02, 2006 at 01:35:45PM -0500, Dave Farber wrote:
> There are other examples from current news that illustrate violations
> of the law and the Constitution.   What is disheartening is that
> these are being sanctioned -- and committed -- by other individuals
> who also swore to uphold the Constitution and ensure that the laws of
> the United States are enforced.  Furthermore, large numbers of our
> elected representatives are ignoring or excusing this behavior
> because they are beholden to political parties and financial donors,
> rather than feeling a duty to the country.

I agree, vehemently.

What's also disheartening is how many of our fellow countrymen are
willing to ignore/excuse this behavior out of fear.  Fear of 9/11, fear
of Muslims, fear of H5N1, fear of immigrants, fear of [...].  I'll even
admit to some of that myself, in the days immediately following 9/11/2001.
But with a little time and perspective, that evaporated and I came to
take a longer view.  Or so I can hope.

We are surrendering -- out of fear -- that which took centuries of
struggle and suffering to acquire.  Have we really become such cowards?
Are we ready to give up all that we have for promises of safety --
promises that we all know (or darn well should know) are completely empty?

If so, then we might as well drop the pretense that this grand experiment
in democracy has any future.  We apparently lack the collective spine
to insist on NOT changing the way we run our country merely because
of a mere pinprick of an attack.  Instead, we've become a nation of
dancing monkeys who twitch obediently whenever some vague rumor of a
threat reaches our ears.  "plot against San Francisco" comes the word,
and we move to threat level mauve.  "increased chatter on Internet"
they say, and we're ready to tap every wire we've got and some we don't.
"must show national unity" we're exhorted and the marching morons fall
in line behind our president, finely equipped with all the intellectual
agility of a small soap dish.

"Lafayette, we are here."  No, we're not.  We're cowering in a corner
trying not to risk anything more substantial than the paint jobs on
our SUVs.

---Rsk

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