Mary M S
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2002
- Messages
- 1,544
I would first like to thank all members contributing who are employed in judicial branches, law enforcement and covert activities which in the highest morale purer ideal; is goaled To Protect.
I cannot image the daily frustrations encountered in “the business” that ‘rules of laws’ daily allows criminals to escape prosecution and over decades allow the “breech” that is a 9/11 or OKC.
However I cannot conceive that you who walk the walk, (over years) have not become cynical and disheartened (at times) by the abuses of those who dictate and firm and promote new policy in reaction to the changing needs and pressures globally in societies.
...Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The rational part of me does not care when I am chatting away on the phone to ? that the conversation being monitored, if I speak key words, is a system set up to prevent a reenactment of anything like 9/11 or worse. The emotional part of me, would hand every freedom I own over to the Mother of a child which did not survive the Oklahoma City bombing, so that she could watch her child grow...as I have mine.
The cynical part of me knows that the infrastructure gaining ground as we speak will be used/abused in Watergate style by less moral souls to advance their own policy. That is the point I believe Christopher alludes to ....the HISTORY behind the eventual degradation and abuse which goes glove on hand with greater restrictions of freedom, or leaping increases in the technology behind ‘people’ control and tracking, infrastructures.
....it is unbelievable the ‘points of law’ which will be tax-wastingly pushed to the bitter ends, when there are SO many more vital issues needing policing: when any agency decides to make life miserable for those of alternate views, down to the smallest matters. (Russ L and viagra COME ON, I don’t even want to THINK ABOUT Russ L on viagra)
What use will ultimately be made of these greater ‘controls’ and ‘safeguards”?
I am scared right now...of hackers ....of terrorists ...(of heights ) of losing my freedoms, and those things I see changing and fading away which in its past made America vibrant (though deeply flawed as man is flawed) one of the most shining (sea to sea ...I am a patriot) example of Democratic ‘ideals’ in modern times.
I can see the tendency to mention Germany, I look even further back via history and am more chilled and gravely concerned in a “What does it all mean?” manner.
There is a book I adore “Pillar of Iron” by Taylor Caldwell, in the foreword it states:
"Any resemblance between the Republics of Rome and the United States of America is purely historical, as is the similarity of ancient Rome to the modern world......Marcus T Cicero....his life as consul of Rome (similar to the office of President of the United States) would make a thick volume without reference to his life as Senator....he hated and feared militarism and was a man of peace in a world that did not contain peace and never will...Caesar, though a patrician (read Ivy league) and a solider, himself, belonged to the populares (popular) party, and claimed to be a great Democrat and lover of the masses, whereas he and Cicero well understood that he despised them. Cicero, as a middle-class ....though so different in nature from Caesars own antic, subtle, light-hearted, powerful, not to mention devious, temperament..[Caesar & Cicero]..loved each other in their own individual way-with caution, wariness, laughter, anger, and devotion...Caesar said of Cicero, [his offtime enemy] “We are like the Gemini”... “I trust only you in Rome” (they fought opposite sides of politics throughout both their careers, at times the deadliest of enemies, while continuing their deep mutual admiration for the others talents.)
These same self-serving kingmakers, are not dusty cartoon figures in skirts, they were living breathing examples of the temperaments and leanings of modern Politicians today. And history has shown,,, repeatedly....that men in positions to effect policy, who strive to broaden their powers will always have the same caustic results, (towards the ruinnation and slow decay of a vibrant productive society) then, -as now.
Reading more of Cicero. Second and Third Oration against Catilina, in the Senate
“Too long have we said to ourselves, ‘Intolerance of another’s politics is barbarous and not to be countenanced in a civilized country. Are we not free? Shall a man be denied his right to speak under the law which established that right? I tell you that freedom does not mean the freedom to exploit law in order to destroy it! It is not freedom which permits the Trojan Horse to be wheeled within the gates, and those within to be heard in the name of tolerating a different point of view!.....He cannot be for lawful ordinances and for an alien conspiracy at one and the same moment! One is a Roman or not a Roman!
“Though liberty is established by law, we must be vigilant, for liberty to enslave us is always present under that very liberty! Our Constitution speaks of the ‘general’ welfare of the people. Under the phrase all sorts of excesses can be employed by tyrants to make us bondsman.”
If you read history at all ...you’d be a fool not to be concerned over the ultimate direction and consequences of any change of policy regarding ‘freedoms’ in any society.
I cannot image the daily frustrations encountered in “the business” that ‘rules of laws’ daily allows criminals to escape prosecution and over decades allow the “breech” that is a 9/11 or OKC.
However I cannot conceive that you who walk the walk, (over years) have not become cynical and disheartened (at times) by the abuses of those who dictate and firm and promote new policy in reaction to the changing needs and pressures globally in societies.
...Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The rational part of me does not care when I am chatting away on the phone to ? that the conversation being monitored, if I speak key words, is a system set up to prevent a reenactment of anything like 9/11 or worse. The emotional part of me, would hand every freedom I own over to the Mother of a child which did not survive the Oklahoma City bombing, so that she could watch her child grow...as I have mine.
The cynical part of me knows that the infrastructure gaining ground as we speak will be used/abused in Watergate style by less moral souls to advance their own policy. That is the point I believe Christopher alludes to ....the HISTORY behind the eventual degradation and abuse which goes glove on hand with greater restrictions of freedom, or leaping increases in the technology behind ‘people’ control and tracking, infrastructures.
....it is unbelievable the ‘points of law’ which will be tax-wastingly pushed to the bitter ends, when there are SO many more vital issues needing policing: when any agency decides to make life miserable for those of alternate views, down to the smallest matters. (Russ L and viagra COME ON, I don’t even want to THINK ABOUT Russ L on viagra)
What use will ultimately be made of these greater ‘controls’ and ‘safeguards”?
I am scared right now...of hackers ....of terrorists ...(of heights ) of losing my freedoms, and those things I see changing and fading away which in its past made America vibrant (though deeply flawed as man is flawed) one of the most shining (sea to sea ...I am a patriot) example of Democratic ‘ideals’ in modern times.
I can see the tendency to mention Germany, I look even further back via history and am more chilled and gravely concerned in a “What does it all mean?” manner.
There is a book I adore “Pillar of Iron” by Taylor Caldwell, in the foreword it states:
"Any resemblance between the Republics of Rome and the United States of America is purely historical, as is the similarity of ancient Rome to the modern world......Marcus T Cicero....his life as consul of Rome (similar to the office of President of the United States) would make a thick volume without reference to his life as Senator....he hated and feared militarism and was a man of peace in a world that did not contain peace and never will...Caesar, though a patrician (read Ivy league) and a solider, himself, belonged to the populares (popular) party, and claimed to be a great Democrat and lover of the masses, whereas he and Cicero well understood that he despised them. Cicero, as a middle-class ....though so different in nature from Caesars own antic, subtle, light-hearted, powerful, not to mention devious, temperament..[Caesar & Cicero]..loved each other in their own individual way-with caution, wariness, laughter, anger, and devotion...Caesar said of Cicero, [his offtime enemy] “We are like the Gemini”... “I trust only you in Rome” (they fought opposite sides of politics throughout both their careers, at times the deadliest of enemies, while continuing their deep mutual admiration for the others talents.)
These same self-serving kingmakers, are not dusty cartoon figures in skirts, they were living breathing examples of the temperaments and leanings of modern Politicians today. And history has shown,,, repeatedly....that men in positions to effect policy, who strive to broaden their powers will always have the same caustic results, (towards the ruinnation and slow decay of a vibrant productive society) then, -as now.
Reading more of Cicero. Second and Third Oration against Catilina, in the Senate
“Too long have we said to ourselves, ‘Intolerance of another’s politics is barbarous and not to be countenanced in a civilized country. Are we not free? Shall a man be denied his right to speak under the law which established that right? I tell you that freedom does not mean the freedom to exploit law in order to destroy it! It is not freedom which permits the Trojan Horse to be wheeled within the gates, and those within to be heard in the name of tolerating a different point of view!.....He cannot be for lawful ordinances and for an alien conspiracy at one and the same moment! One is a Roman or not a Roman!
“Though liberty is established by law, we must be vigilant, for liberty to enslave us is always present under that very liberty! Our Constitution speaks of the ‘general’ welfare of the people. Under the phrase all sorts of excesses can be employed by tyrants to make us bondsman.”
If you read history at all ...you’d be a fool not to be concerned over the ultimate direction and consequences of any change of policy regarding ‘freedoms’ in any society.