Roughly ten years and four months ago, the United States was attacked. The motivations of its enemy were political, and the ability of this enemy to organize such a strike against the United States was a direct result of the United States' involvement in a proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the late 20th century. The attacks acted as a political catalyst, and the ominous changes which are slowly taking place worldwide in the countries which have been secure in their global dominance for the better part of a century became blatantly apparent in the USA.
Almost immediately following the attacks, the USA PATRIOT act was passed into Federal law, authorizing roving wiretap surveillance, indefinite detention on suspicion of involvement in terrorism, and entry into dwelling-places without an owner's knowledge. Few Americans opposed the act at the time of its passing - They were angry, desiring blood for blood, and they were afraid.
Over the last decade, we have all become accustomed to increased government involvement in our lives. There are more cameras, a more visible law-enforcement presence, and a greatly elevated level of security in air travel. We have become accustomed to a general public disapproval of political dissent and protest, a right-wing religious fundamentalist movement that has grown alarmingly in strength and power, and national news services like CNN and Fox constantly preaching caution, constantly telling us the danger we are in. The fear-mongering is certainly less pronounced now than it was five years ago, but we know it has not entirely subsided. We have become accustomed to seeing deplorable acts of hate against religious, ethnic, orientation-based and political minorities, and our youth are pressured to conform to avoid this abuse. We've all seen systemic discrimination and oppression motivated by hatred and fear - And the Republican party is rank with it. It is no longer a movement merely supporting fiscal conservatism, but is now socially regressive, quite literally opposed to social freedom.
Now, in 2012, Senator Joe Lieberman and Congressional Representative Charles Dent have put forward a federal bill, that, if passed, will effectively enable the American government to strip the citizenship of anyone charged with "engaging in, or purposefully or materially supporting 'hostilities' against the United States." The law would not require that person to be found guilty of the charge by a court of law for their citizenship to be taken away. Given the ambiguity of America's ongoing 'War on Terror', even something as innocent as a peaceful protest or expressing a sentiment of support for an enemy of America could qualify. A person who is stripped of their American citizenship, and holds no other citizenship, is rendered stateless, a legal non-entity. They can lawfully be deported to any facility anywhere in the world for indefinite incarceration, where they could be subject to torture, as were many of the detainees in Abu Ghraib. American laws do not protect those not on American soil - A convenient oversight.
The question is not whether the government will exercise this new authority, but when it will. This is a power no government of a nation of free people should possess.
Western countries are slowly losing their influence in the rest of the world as the giants in the East, India and China, gain power and prestige. In another hundred years, they will be the strongest military, social and economical powers on earth. If Americans keep losing their freedoms, the USA will one day fit the definition of a third-world nation. An oligarchy or dictatorship, it matters not which. Hearing about the proposed Enemy Expatriation Act struck me like a blow, and so I write. For the first time, I'm genuinely afraid for Americans.
V for Vendetta was a fantastic movie; most of you have seen it. Consider the state of the fictional England in that movie and how it came about, and consider every word of the character V's speech on national TV. It is transcribed here for your perusal:
[I]"Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine- the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, whereby those important events of the past usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle are celebrated with a nice holiday. I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, think, and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillence coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well, certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now High Chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot."[/I]
Friends, it is not yet time to protest. You will know deep down when that line has been crossed. Do not let yourselves be afraid. The freedoms of the people in a Republic can never be completely taken away so long as there are those who will make their voices heard in their defense.
[I]What I want from you is a pledge. [/I]
I can't realistically hold you to this pledge, but I hope that when the time comes, you will remember it.
If you love the right to speak, and the freedoms you are entitled to enjoy, I want your word that you will speak out if and when your voice is needed. We're young, and things may remain good for a while yet, but if there is a national disaster, if the USA is attacked again, you WILL see your freedoms, and the freedoms of your fellow Americans, crushed in your lifetime. When that happens, I want you to march in protest. Society may look down on you. The law may try to stop you. But there are some things worth standing up for, no matter the cost. Do not be complacent if a time comes when you see the principles of fairness, justice and liberty destroyed.
As you sit at your computer screen now, comfortable at home, school or work, the air outside crisp and clear, I do not doubt that that day seems very far away. I hope it is. But should the worst happen, do not let your courage falter. America will need your strength.
We can hope the day is far away, but cannot predict it with any certainty. There are those of us who will find any reason to protest- and those who find it too difficult, are embarrassed, or are simply too lazy and careless.
Those people are what put us in the most jeopardy as far as freedom goes.
[QUOTE=paindoc;34124325]We can hope the day is far away, but cannot predict it with any certainty. There are those of us who will find any reason to protest- and those who find it too difficult, are embarrassed, or are simply too lazy and careless.
Those people are what put us in the most jeopardy as far as freedom goes.[/QUOTE]
Aye, but you have a choice. Where will you stand?
Yes V for Vendetta was an okay movie but it was a [B]movie [/B]you and 4chan need to stop sleeping with it.
I know it's difficult to read a wall of text, Thrawn, but you should at least try.
[QUOTE=archangel125;34124393]I know it's difficult to read a wall of text, Thrawn, but you should at least try.[/QUOTE]
9/11 was an excuse to take all our freedoms away and the Republicans and just the Republicans are evil and trying to take our rights away please make a pledge to stand up. Also V for Vendetta.
I did read it all and it read like some stupid anon letter. Yes America has problems and needs to be fixed but preaching this stuff on the internet to a bunch of like minded basement dwellers who won't end up doing anything doesn't end up changing anything, and having a third of your essay from V for Vendetta doesn't help it's credibility or to help separate it from the typical anon crap that we see every so often
I agree with the message, the writing is pretty extreme and makes sweeping generalizations and somewhat crazy predictions. Take offense to this if you want but it was a campy leftist essay that took way too much inspiration from one [B]fictional work[/B] and goes out of it's way to bash Republicans and no one else (Democrats are in on it too buddy, and Lieberman is an independent (was a democrat). Politics sucks what do you want)
I understand your use of V for Vendetta to make your point, it really does fit, and I'm not going to associate you with Anon just because of it. However, the reference itself isn't very good. American's aren't going to go up in arms because you liken a fictional story to their situation. Fiction is that, fiction. It leaves a lot of room for uncertainty and interpretiation. In all honestly, it's like strictly following the bible(which no one does, and I'm not calling the bible fiction so just forget that topic). You'd have a better job showing American's that this is exactly the kind of situation that our forfathers wouldn't have stood for.
Why are you bashing the Republican party only in this text? If you truely believe this, you have spent far too much time on Facepunch. This website is among the absolute worst when it comes to political opinions, many will blindly follow the Democrats while other websites are guilty of the opposite. The cold hard truth is that both parties are equally responsible. The leadership of this government has flipped since the attacks and they are both attacking the situation at home the exact same way, passing legislationn that further restricts our rights. And believe it or not, both are even capable of pursuing two seemingly different avenues that eventually culminate into the same goal.
Next, I see you think you have picked out the guilty parties, but what is their motive? What do they have to gain? From you, all I know through passing this legislation is that they seek to control us? [U]Why?[/U] That's a pretty big claim to make if you can't tell us why they want to do it.
You also start off your essay with the September 11th attacks. Pretty convenient huh? Gave them everything they needed? I'm willing to bet this type of legislation started way before those attacks, I think that should be looked at.
Lastly, I've read through the article on here about that new bill, and I think some more research needs to be done there as well. Facepunch has overwhelmingly overlooked the fact that 'Hostilities' refer only to items that fall under the Laws of War. The United States has offered no formal decleration of war that is required under the laws of war. Also, enemy combatants are not wearing a standardized uniform and openly carrying weapons, an agreement that two countries much meet during conflict under the rules of war. Medical personnel and civilians are not being protected(by both the U.S and terrorists), which is another huge component. In fact, technically the 'War on Terror' is nothing but... Well, it's nothing at all. A term for the conflict in Afghanistan and Operation New Dawn I guess.
The 'War On Terror' is not an official war, since terrorists are not a legal faction in war. Even our civil war would not be covered under the rules of war, because the Confederate States of America were not recognised as a sovereign nation.
[QUOTE=thrawn2787;34124498]
Yes America has problems and needs to be fixed but preaching this stuff on the internet to a bunch of like minded basement dwellers who won't end up doing anything doesn't end up changing anything,
[/QUOTE]
It's funny because I bet someone way back when said the same thing about the Federalist papers(except you know, with paper). But I totally agree with everything else you said.
[QUOTE=archangel125;34123922] Do not be complacent if a time comes when you see the principles of fairness, justice and liberty destroyed.
[/QUOTE]
I apologize if i'm misinterpreting the views illustrated in what is a touchingly passionate OP (no sarcasm), but are you inferring that the principles of fairness, justice and liberty do in fact exist (or have existed at any time previously) in today's society? As proto-revolutionary as your post sounds, can you summarize what 'freedoms' you are actually looking for in society? What is it that you're looking to protect? The vague and sweeping statements you're making that - it seems to me - target, naively, natural evolutions of capitalism don't exactly hold water as far as inspiring me to action goes.
[QUOTE=Karlos;34125088]I apologize if i'm misinterpreting the views illustrated in what is a touchingly passionate OP (no sarcasm), but are you inferring that the principles of fairness, justice and liberty do in fact exist (or have existed at any time previously) in today's society? As proto-revolutionary as your post sounds, can you summarize what 'freedoms' you are actually looking for in society? What is it that you're looking to protect? The vague and sweeping statements you're making that - it seems to me - target, naively, natural evolutions of capitalism don't exactly hold water as far as inspiring me to action goes.[/QUOTE]
socialist smackdown
i pledge allegiance to one land and one land only, the land of the long white cloud NEW ZEALAND earths greatest nation
As if I'm not waiting for that day.
Patriotism is a silly idea. Your country isn't better than others merely because you live or were born in it.
I may have just missed the point, in that case ignore me.
lol @ you if you believe america is anything other than a corporate-controlled police state. you literally live in a third world country in terms of human rights.
[QUOTE=MountainWatcher;34127233]Patriotism is a silly idea. Your country isn't better than others merely because you live or were born in it.
I may have just missed the point, in that case ignore me.[/QUOTE]
Patriotism is a great idea. Nationalism sucks though. (obviously)
You're preaching to the choir, Archangel.
You've all got good points. Maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture. And corporations already wield tremendous power in America. Still, at this time Americans do enjoy at least the illusion of free speech - But if the government begins to abuse the power of this new bill (if passed) to crack down on even that, then it'll be time for some action.
Don't let them take the second amendment, you'll need it to protect all the others.
[QUOTE=SilentOpp;34125020]
The 'War On Terror' is not an official war, since terrorists are not a legal faction in war. Even our civil war would not be covered under the rules of war, because the Confederate States of America were not recognised as a sovereign nation.[/QUOTE]
There is that. If there's a danger of these powers being abused in that manner, it also is comforting to think that the courts will step in and put their collective foot down. Still, the power to strip citizenship? It sounds like a loophole to legalize torture to me.
[QUOTE=WubWubWompWomp;34127409]Don't let them take the second amendment, you'll need it to protect all the others.[/QUOTE]
actually gun control caused the war of independence
something overt like taking everyone's guns might just be enough to stir people into action
[QUOTE=Chicken_Chaser;34127350]Patriotism is a great idea. Nationalism sucks though. (obviously)[/QUOTE]
Is still doesn't make sense that you're proud of your country, you did nothing to be born it,m it was luck of the draw. Neither did you make it what it was today, if you immigrated.
[QUOTE=MountainWatcher;34127915]Is still doesn't make sense that you're proud of your country, you did nothing to be born it,m it was luck of the draw. Neither did you make it what it was today, if you immigrated.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps patriotism can be based more upon how lucky you are to be born in a country rather than what people have done to make it great.
[QUOTE=MountainWatcher;34127915]Is still doesn't make sense that you're proud of your country, you did nothing to be born it,m it was luck of the draw. Neither did you make it what it was today, if you immigrated.[/QUOTE]
The reason a person can be proud of a country is because that person agrees with the principles a country stands for, or even claims to stand for.
That isn't being proud, pride isn't the same as harmony. pride is just contentment regarding your own actions.
[QUOTE=MountainWatcher;34128199]That isn't being proud, pride isn't the same as harmony. pride is just contentment regarding your own actions.[/QUOTE]
Let's not call it pride, then. Let's call it fondness. My fondness for Canada because of what Canada stands for can be called patriotism, can it not?
Eh, patriotism is still just defined as love for one's country. I don't really see why we should love a country more just because it's ours.
I'm cool with you digging canada, man, just as long as it isn't because you live in it.
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