Ben was a wise man who probably would have been running Linux if
computers were around in his time. His words still hold true.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I am afraid...
>
> I am afraid of those who would, in mindless persuit of some increase in
> security discard the freedoms that so many have fought and died to preserve.
> Benjamin Franklin observed that "those who would sacrifice essential
> freedoms for a little security will soon have neither." If we sacrifice
> any of the Bill of Rights for the sake of some false image of safety,
> whether acting in some "War Against Drugs", or in a "War Against Terror",
> the enemy has already won. Finding a way to achieve our goals that does
> not demolish our own foundations in freedom is sometimes hard - but
> always worthy.
>
> I am afraid of those who would blindly strike at a wide area in persuit of
> vengence and security. The feelings of satisfaction are only temporary,
> and the consequences of ill considered action last a long time.
>
> I am afraid of those who are overeager to "send in the troups" to destroy
> any possible target that even _might_ be involved in supporting those who
> have committed terrorism. "The troups" are not mindless grunts waiting to
> die as a tool of policy. They are _your_ brothers/sisters/mothers/fathers/
> cousins. Both the enlisted and officer corps are often highly educated and
> trained. They are sworn to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.
> Before you blindly scream "SEND IN THE TROUPS", ask yourself if you are so
> sure of the cause in which you send them that YOU YOURSELF ARE WILLING TO
> VOLUNTEER TO BE ONE OF "THE TROUPS". Is this cause worthy of the expenditure
> of their lives? Is it worthy of yours?
>
> I am afraid of those who are blindly attacking American muslims and anyone
> who appears to be of middle-eastern descent. In the barbaric attack on the
> WTC and Pentagon, one of the goals is to deepen the rift between communities
> in the U.S., both creating more civil unrest, and widening the base of
> concealment and operations available here. You serve our enemies well when
> you mouth the words or take the actions of bigotry, racism, and hatred.
>
> I am afraid for the families of those in the Reserves and National Guard.
> We heard in the Gulf War that there was no "War Tax". There _WAS_ a war
> tax. It was paid by the Reserves and National Guard, who reported for duty
> and lost incomes and jobs; whos families suffered from those losses, who
> came home to find an economy that had slumped and had no jobs to return to
> and in too many cases went months without employment.
>
> I am afraid for the scarred souls we may possess if we take the wrong
> action and look back at it later with pain and regret.
>
> I am afraid that some might dither so much that the results will be no
> action, or ineffective action, rather than enough or too much. Like an
> excessive response an ineffective one is an invitation to further future
> disaster.
>
> A Note:
>
> I am a 30 year veteran, Pararescue, Survival Instructor, and Emergency
> Care Medical Services, active duty and active Reserve duty. I have seen
> service in RVN and in Saudi Arabia in the Gulf War. I retired this spring.
> I paid a Gulf War tax in lost income of greater than $90k US, and this
> was followed by 6 months of unemployment.
>
> The only one of the questions above that I can answer with any certainty
> is the third one above, "Is it worthy of yours?" I have contacted the
> MPU (Military Personnel Unit) at the nearest base to my home and have
> volunteered for recall.
>
> Make your own decisions, for your own reasons - but please _THINK_ very
> carefully before talking or acting.
>
> Yours
> rickf
>
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