Freaking Out Over Government Surveillance
By Chuck Muth (05/16/05)
Why are we so worried about a few million illegal aliens infiltrating society who have no idea what being an American is all about when we have so many more natural-born, home-grown Americans who have no idea what being an American is all about?
Thanks, public schools. Thanks, teachers unions.
I remember when the Patriot Act was first being considered and civil libertarians were warning that the law would allow the government to read your emails. And I remember hearing and reading American after American respond by saying, "Hey, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Oh, thank goodness Thomas Jefferson wasn't around to hear THAT.
And then there was the federalization of airport screeners and the establishment of the TSA - which stands for either "Transportation Security Administration" or "Thousands Standing Around," depending on who you talk to. American after American now dutifully stands in line, like sheep led to slaughter, waiting patiently and without protest for their turn to flash identity documents demanded by uniformed federal agents who all but say, "Papers, please."
Baaaaa.
That these uniformed federal agents seem to focus most of their attention on blue-haired grannies, buxom blonds and kids in diapers, while studiously avoiding even the appearance of "profiling" 24-year-old Middle Eastern men is the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the Twilight Zone. But few Americans care. They're more than willing to suffer such indignities for a "feeling" of a little safety.
Which brings me to Baltimore, Maryland - a city rich in our nation's founding history. Indeed, it was here during the War of 1812 that our national anthem (that would be "The Star Spangled Banner" for you publik skool kids out there) was penned by Francis Scott Key during the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry. The closing line champions America as the "land of the free and home of the brave."
Ah, but that was 200 years ago. Baltimore has changed a lot since then.
For the worse. Much worse.
This week, government officials switched on 43 new 24-hour surveillance cameras in the high-crime area of West Baltimore - with nary a peep of protest. The cameras were purchased with federal homeland-security money which is supposed to be used to thwart terrorists. Instead, Baltimore's mayor is using the money to spy on local black residents and thwart purse-snatchers. Who says government money isn't fungible?
27-year-old Allison Davis - who works in the area, but lives in a "nice" neighborhood - said the cameras would "freak me out" if they were being put somewhere other than in high-crime areas. Apparently it's OK to infringe on the basic liberties of those "uppity negroes" in the ghetto, so long as they don't try that Big Brother stuff out in the 'burbs.
Um, get ready to "freak out," Allison. Because those 43 cameras are just the camel's nose under the tent.
"Eventually," reports the Washington Times, "the cameras will be tied into a regional network also covering" five surrounding suburban and rural counties. And if that's not enough to "freak you out," supporters of the spy cameras predict that "Maryland soon could be part of an integrated national surveillance network, with cameras watching people on the streets, in schools, on subways and at ballparks."
George Orwell, please call your office.
What's truly frightening isn't so much that Big Brother wants to put spy cameras on every street corner in America, but that so many Americans see nothing wrong with it. Including many self-described conservatives.
The Times notes that many of the folks it interviewed the day the Baltimore cameras were switched on said they were "willing to surrender a little personal anonymity in return for some peace of mind." The spy cameras give "people a feeling of safety, a feeling of security," says 44-year-old Douglas Jones, adding that you really don't have to be worried about being watched if you "live a good life" and aren't doing anything wrong.
Benjamin Franklin must be rolling in his grave. It was Franklin who warned over 200 years ago that those who would give up essential liberty for a little temporary security deserved neither...and would eventually lose both.
That so many Americans today deserve neither and risk losing both for all of us is something to really freak out over.
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