9/11...

[seawasp]

... was called a declaration of war. And, in a way, it was, but not the war that the politicians wanted us to think.

It was a war against trust. A war against acceptance of risk in the real world. A war against our freedom, not by Muslim terrorists, but by our own people.

We are currently losing this war, as we were from the moment the PATRIOT act was passed. We continue to lose it as long as it, and similar laws, remain in force, as long as we are searched by increasingly intrusive means for weapons just to be able to fly for an hour, as long as our politicians and police justify any level of violence, intrusion, surveillance, and confiscation in the name of "terrorism".

I mourn for the people who died that day. And I mourn for the wound that it dealt our country, a wound that various groups are trying their best not to heal, but to cut open wider.

Comments

[robby.livejournal.com]

Fear of terrorism has led increasing government repression. I'm not sure that the American people will wake up in time.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I would argue that many have been awake to the perils feared in this discussion the whole time, from that day to now...

[robby.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that Homeland Security and the TSA could be taking such liberties if people were aware. I just saw some poll results that indicated 60% of Americans didn't know what party controlled the House or Senate.

[murstein.livejournal.com]

One hopes that not too many have been punished for pointing that out too forcefully.

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

Instead, we must close our eyes tight shut to ISIS, and if we do so long enough maybe ... just maybe ... they'll stop existing because we'll stop believing in them. Surely no grubby Third Worlders can possibly be real without our consent, right?

[seawasp]

I don't see them as a significant threat to the United States, nor ever likely to be one; they could theoretically come here and try to blow up buildings or something, but then just treat them as the criminals they'd be. China, if sufficiently hostile, would be a threat to us -- but still not one justifying scanning and searching every single American citizen every time they happen to want to go somewhere.

That's the "acceptance of risk" I mentioned. You want freedom? You risk someone abusing that freedom and hurting you, your family, your friends. You want safety? Give up your freedom. "Those who would give up their liberty to procure a temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." I prefer the freedom.

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

... they could theoretically come here and try to blow up buildings or something ...

Oh, come on. Muslim terrorists blowing up buildings in America? That could never happen. Well it happened once 13 years ago, but that was just the big scene Michael Bay used to start the movie! They don't have the special effects budget to show more such incidents. They'd just happen off-screen, which means not to any important characters.

.... but then just treat them as the criminals they'd be.

Given the way Muslim terrorists choose to blow up buildings, what would this mean? Picking their remains out of the rubble and then giving said remains a fair trial?

China, if sufficiently hostile, would be a threat to us -- but still not one justifying scanning and searching every single American citizen every time they happen to want to go somewhere.

Actually, if China were doing her utmost to destroy us, our war effort would involve considerably more than just internal checkpoints. Or did you miss the point that China is a nuclear-armed Great Power with considerable strategic, air and naval forces?

You seem to also be missing the point that ISIS has not only declared itself to be an independent political entity -- a "Caliphate," in fact -- but actually has an army and territory. How big does ISIS have to grow before you will accept its reality?

[seawasp]

If they have an army and territory, you can attack them, if you like. That's separate from turning your own country into a surveillance state and rolling back our freedoms HERE. Nothing done HERE is materially going to affect ISIS or any terrorists. Which is my point.

[melchar.livejournal.com]

As was mentioned before, one can declare war on a place or a nation. One cannot declare war on a noun, or a concept and -ever- expect the war to end.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

In more than one nation, I fear...

[seawasp]

Indeed, though as an American I am most concerned about the country I have to deal with in my day to day life, which is of course to say the USA.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

A fair concern.

[kjn]

There is also the thing that the US is, due to its size and prosperity, setting trends and tones for the rest of the world. The social, cultural, and political decisions that the US takes—in airline security, in surveillance, in what it sees as threats—has a huge impact on the rest of the world. Both in its direct impact on us, but also indirectly.

[bunny-m.livejournal.com]

Rest assured, very similar bullshit is happening here in Australia also.

And based on the news, even worse in the UK.

we lost a lot that day...

[ancientone.livejournal.com]

and to think some folks used that event to further their own personal agenda.

[sturgeonslawyer.livejournal.com]

Bravo.

[theoldone.livejournal.com]

I must sadly agree with you.

[kengr]

Well, I still recall one of my thoughts at the time (shortly after the planes hit the second tower, I was watching live coverage).

Mind you, I was wrong about it, but I did wonder if this was a "Reichstag Fire" situation.

Alas, while it wasn't a plot, they *used* it the same way Germany's government used the Reichstag fire...

[melchar.livejournal.com]

And they continue to use it - and beat the 'fear - fire - foes' terrorism drum every year to make sure the herd stays afraid enough to be manipulated. And now the war drum beat picks up again.

[orangemike.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that very pointed reminder, eloquently phrased. I continue to consider myself lucky to know you.

[seawasp]

Thanks very much!