Thursday, March 11, 2010

An Epiphany

Mr. Webster defines an epiphany as "an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking." As I was browsing the news, as I am wont to do each evening, I came across a statement that was stunning to me in it's simplicity. In an article on Foxnews.com entitled " 5 Reasons Why America Should Steer Clear of a National ID Card.", author Alex Nowrasteh stated the following, with a National ID Card " every worker would have to ask permission from the federal government to get a job." My epiphany came with the very next sentence. " American workers shouldn’t have to beg or plead to anybody to get permission to work." I would expand that statement. An American should not have to beg or plead the government for permission to do anything.

We have been sliding towards an Orwellian future for quite some time. The causes for this are many and varied, Some say terrorism and those "bleep" Republicans with their Patriot Act (which was just renewed by the "bleep" Democrats). Others would say the need for the left wing Democrats to destroy any opposition to their control of the government. Look up Richard Nixon and his "Enemies List". The causes, even though they are important, pale when compared to the effect.

From the time when Grok was first voted head of the cavemen to the present, no government has failed to misuse whatever powers were granted it. This National ID would treat every American like a criminal. It would require us to enter our personal information into a government database. Where does this stop? We already have to show a Social Security card to get a job. Will we have to show a Federal ID to simply buy groceries? It would give those in "authority" an even greater license for abuse. I have visions of Homeland Security agents in black trench coats saying (insert bad German accent) "papers pleeeze." If you think I am overreacting, let me share a recent incident.

A good friend of mine took a job in the land of ice and snow. OK, Columbus, Ohio, but let me get back to my story, She was about to get on a flight and was stopped by a TSA screener. Now we all know about emptying our pockets and, thanks to Richard Reid, taking off our shoes. But this person decided Mandie might be planning something even more devious and ordered her to take off her sweater. Mandie is a very attractive Southern lady in every sense of the word. I don't know whether this person was a not so subtle voyeur or simply trying to show his authority over a simple peasant, but the end result was my friend standing in crowded airport in her underwear. On a side note, he picked the wrong person. Mandie is an award winning reporter for a Columbus radio station. The screener is probably somewhere in Alaska asking Eskimo's to take off their mukluks.

My concern isn't about left wing vs. right wing, conservative vs. liberal, or even Christian vs. Muslim vs. Secular Humanism. It is about freedom vs. tyranny. It is about absolute power corrupting absolutely. It is about a "Government of the people, by the people, for the people," perishing from this Earth. This isn't a call for a letter writing campaign or a "Boston Tea Party". It is merely one man's revelation on rainy night. As Mohandas Gandhi wrote "Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?"

Peace Out.

1 Comment:

Terrell Manasco said...

Bravo! Well said, Comrade....ahh....I mean Terry....

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