Don’t we all feel safer now?

March 24, 2005

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001 the Department of Homeland Security was established and the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) took over the screening of passengers and luggage at airport terminals. The Patriot Act was passed, a highly intrusive and unconstitutional piece of legislation. The Patriot Act II followed. Now legislation is being pushed at the federal level to establish a National ID card. All of this in the name of safeguarding America against terrorism.

But are we safer? If we listen to the main stream media, we are. After all, every time the issue comes up there’s a constant parade of people before the camera spouting “it’s for our safety” on the television screen.

But are we really safer?

While we don’t hear much, in the mainstream media, about the illegal aliens pouring across the border from Mexico into the United States, the e-waves keep us up to date on what the mainstream media chooses to ignore. Pray tell, how is America safer when our borders are open to any and all who wish to cross illegally into our country, no questions asked and no measures taken to staunch the flow?

The problems plaguing the TSA have, in some instances, made a blip on the radar screen of the main-stream media with stories about luggage rifled for prescription medications and other items of value. In one instance a family returning from a fishing trip in Alaska discovered their catch to be lighter by several pounds after going through security at the Spokane International Airport. The culprit didn’t think the people would miss a few pounds of their prize catch!!! Other stories emanating from the world of the airport security screeners are just as outrageous yet these people are supposed to have survived a rigorous background check.

Early in March 2005 a pilot appeared before the microphones and cameras to say that security at airports is no better now than before September 11, 2001, aside from the reinforced cockpit doors and passenger screening measures which, in too many instances, have fallen far short of common sense but have proven inconvenient to the American traveler not to mention being privacy invasive and, in too many cases, personally humiliating. The story went on to enumerate on the training airport security screeners are supposed to receive and what they actually receive.

So, with all this staring us in the face, are we really safer? Doesn’t look like it. So what good are all these measures - the Department of Homeland Security, the Patriot Acts, the airport security screeners, the National ID card - if we aren’t safer?

As one gentleman so aptly put it, all of these measures are not aimed at making America and Americans safer, these measures are aimed at the rights of the American people afforded them under the Constitution and Bill of Rights. And they have been all along.

Of the Athenians, Edward Gibbon has stated,

“In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all - security, comfort and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free.”

In Nazi Germany, Hitler told the people that registering firearms was for their safety. Then he confiscated the firearms leaving the people defenseless against the heinous brutality of his goons.

In America today, it is one “crisis” after the next, and people are rushing to give up their rights for security.

He who refuses to learn the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them.