If you have seen the movie ‘Das Leben Der Anderen‘ (2006) you will understand this drawing. I guess the sad fact is, that nothing has really changed, just the machines that track our phone calls and data traffic. The current system (that is publicly known) is ECHELON:
ECHELON was reportedly created to monitor the military and diplomatic communications of the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies during the Cold War in the early 1960s, but since the end of the Cold War it is believed to search also for hints of terrorist plots, drug dealers’ plans, and political and diplomatic intelligence.
I wonder who defines the term ‘terrorism’? Aren’t we all, in theory, a potential threat to our government, country and fellow human beings? What would you do with power like this? Stick to the rules and only snoop on those worth snooping? Or just simply eavesdrop on all forms of communication performed by even the most honest of people?
What really gets me, is the lack of knowledge and resistance people show for this breach in privacy. I will readily admit that I have dreams of all people living in peace with each other, but I do not believe and will not concede to the fact that I have to give up my sovreignty, privacy and freedom to do so.
As a (semi) American, I would like to use The Bill of Rights as an example to show how the US government (and others) and abusing your personal rights:
The U. S. Constitution contains no express right to privacy. The Bill of Rights, however, reflects the concern of James Madison and other framers for protecting specific aspects of privacy, such as the privacy of beliefs (1st Amendment), privacy of the home against demands that it be used to house soldiers (3rd Amendment), privacy of the person and possessions as against unreasonable searches (4th Amendment), and the 5th Amendment’s privilege against self-incrimination, which provides protection for the privacy of personal information.
The problem I have is that there is no hard evidence of a real terror threat other than that reported on by mainstream media. An amazing documentary called ‘The Power of Nightmares‘ (view trailer) sheds some light on how fear is being exploited by politicians in order for us to give up liberties in exchange for protection. Think twice when there is talk of a threat. Ask yourself:
- who will it benefit financially or politically?
- what will be asked of you as a sacrifice to feel safe so that we can continue to live our life the way that we are used and accustomed to?
“Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”
Benjamin Franklin (A Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania)
Attempting to enter the U.S. at the Niagara Falls border, the couple were asked where they were going, to which they responded the Niagara Falls shopping mall. When the immigration official bizarrely demanded to know what shops they were planning to visit, the situation quickly worsened.
After daring to ask why they were being bombarded with such ridiculous questions, they were told to exit their car and are taken inside for further interrogation by another official. When the Canadian man rhetorically asks, “what are you gonna do, shoot me” the officials claim he is threatening them before he is arrested.
If David Letterman ever wanted to a Top 10 on “Reasons not to visit the USA” this would have to be the #1 reason. Border Security has gone nuts!
