Bracing for the backlash but Not that I fully agree with Gworld at all times, I do get what he's saying most of the time. It appears he's trying to use extremes as examples, to prove the point of which he's making. In most cases even if it's to 'extreme' for my personal views I do actually agree with 'much' of what he states. No not all of it, and no not possibly the way he expresses it, but I'm able to read it for what it is and not go into attack mode simply because it's not the way I personally would have expressed it.
In a way, extremes are similar. Even God has a lot in common with the Devil are similar. And not everyone believes and respects God (Allah, or whatever) rather than the devil. Nor can many tell the difference. Only in a similar way can you say about the US and Cuba, China, the Soviet Union and so on... And as others say or think, as long as the authorities treat me in a appropriate manner, I won't mind them searching me for example, although sometimes I hate it when they are obviously too correct and search me as much as other a lot more suspicious people. I would help if I could, not complain about my freedom and privacy. I have nothing to hide but a lot to loose such as my life!
You may have nothing to hide as most on here probally do not? However that is not the point, searches for no reason without court supervision goes against one of our basic constitutional rights. What you may or may not like I'm sorry in my opinion does not matter, what matters is what our country was founded on and what our constitution says. Sorry don't get me wrong you have the right to express your opinion but I see way to many express their opinion based on what they feel w/o any reguard to the constitution of the United States. Maybe I take it a bit to seriously but I've been known to back up people I do not agree with at all on their opinion, however agreed that the constitution backed up their argument making my opinion null and void on the subject matter Hope the above makes sense and is not taken out of context.
Please one of you explain for me that what is the difference if you put some one in prison for reading a book that government doesn't like, if it is done in USA, China or North Korea. Please one of you explain for me that what is the difference if you, your family, home, office and car can be searched at any time, with or without your knowledge if it is done in USA, China or North Korea. Please one of you explain for me that what is the difference if you can be declared "Domestic Terrorist" (I think in communist countries they call it "enemy of state") for protesting against government policies if it is done in USA , China or North Korea. Please one of you explain for me that what is the difference if you put some one in prison without any trial or conviction in USA, China or North Korea. What do you mean by appropriate manner? Let's say that you are protesting against this war and you are very successful in convincing people in your neighborhood and some one in the government decides that your activities are against America. If they arrest you as a domestic terrorist and put you in prison for rest of your life in prison without any trial or conviction, is that an appropriate manner? Before you telling me that it won't happen in USA, read the history of Soviet and China. People in those countries also started with best intentions for a democratic society.
I could be wrong but I don't think at this time the government can actually put someone in prison just for this fact? They can watch it, I do though see how they could possibly try to use it as such, guess only time will tell?
The problem is that even if they do it, there is no way that people can know about it. 1- There is no right for the prisoner to contact outside world or his family. 2- There is no limit in on the time that you can keep a person in prison before you need to charge the person with a crime 3- There is no need for court, conviction or a chance for accused to defend himself. 4- Even if the accused is given a Lawyer, there is no client-Attorney privilege communication and lawyers are also forbidden to inform media or discuss their client case with others.
I don't disagree with you on that gworld, just was asking about the watching of reading versus actually arresting someone for simply reading a book
Thank you hrblcantra. May be if you explain it then they will understand it. I think it is strange that I as a Canadian argue FOR the Constitution of USA while others argue AGAINST the Constitution even if they are American.
The difference is uninformed U.S. Citizens have the illusion we're better/different from everyone else
While I do understand this statement I must admit I still do believe we are better and or different in my opinion than the countries listed with the examples listed I do see the argument of it's hard playing the high moral card when we ourselves in the US are guilty of or have done X while another country did do X but X to the ultimate level.
If we were in China, this and other posts would be filtered and deleted. That's not happening now, right? You do know that some companies had to accept some limitations if they wanted to enter the Chinese market, right? That's the difference in brief. With proof. Remember Tienanmen and respect those victims...
Actually I believe the US has done, or attempted to do just that on issues, posts, websites, domains on the web. Not to the extent of China, but doing it never the less.
Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding. Louis D. Brandeis (1856 - 1941), (Supreme Court Justice) As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air however slight lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness. William O. Douglas, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court I agree with you, but what I am afraid and hope that will not happen is to see the US government do X to the ultimate level in 5, 10 or 15 years. Everything in the histories of other dictatorships like Soviet, China,... shows us that once the government starts to do X, sooner or later it will do the ultimate X as you call it.
Remember Kent State The term "McCarthyism" has since become synonymous with any government activity which seeks to suppress unfavorable political or social views, often by limiting or suspending civil rights under the pretext of maintaining national security. Remember Senator Joseph MacCarthy If you remove the constitutional check and balance from any government, sooner or later it will become a dictatorship, it doesn't matter if it is in Soviet, China or USA.
First, explain where and how this CAN happen in the US. http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/add_myths.htm#s215 First, explain where and how this CAN happen in the US. http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/add_myths.htm#s213 First, explain where and how this CAN happen in the US. http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/add_myths.htm#s215 http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/add_myths.htm#s802 Enemy combatant is the difference. Detaining enemy combatants, those that are about or intend on doing harm to our country. In such case, Jose Padilla is the only one I'm aware of. Who else comes to mind? What do we know of Padilla? http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/h_patact.htm This is exactly what the patriot act was designed for and it is working. Keeping al qaida off our streets and behind bars. Are you suggesting you want him free? Read what it has to say about him. Then find someone who you think IS innocent that has been put in prison without trial or conviction. Someone other than an al qaida operative that is being detained. First, explain where and how this CAN happen in the US. http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/add_myths.htm#s802 This is an untrue scenario. You are not familiar with the patriot act and are making up false scenarios. Don't need to. You are making up scenarios that do not exist and are clearly defined in the patriot act.
Interesting links Gtech, I plan on reading through them further later. However of course you have to take into consideration the site laying out these facts from myths is a website controlled by the same people who want the patriot act. Of course they are going to lay it out in such a way to make it sound all fine and dandy