About a week after 9-11, I remember Cecily and I embarking on a 3-state camping trip. In upstate NY we were invited to a candle-light vigil. I remember that day's local newspaper including a cardboard US flag in every copy. Someone suggested we put one on our car's dash, "because you don't want your windows broke." That was the first time I felt the hand of coercive patriotism on my shoulder.
I recognized it for what it was: fear. We were wounded and we were afraid of being wounded again. So we embarked on the daunting and brutal task of grouping like with like and weeding out anything (or anyone) smacking of difference.
A few days later, also in western New York state, we encountered a roadblock. It was surprising, because it was on a local two-lane. But when an elderly man decided to break from the cue and turn aroiund, he was pursued by the police and stopped. I'm not really sure what the police were doing. They'd pulled a few cars from the line and I watched as the owners vainly flap0ped papers and waved arms and made generally pleading gestures. Bear in mind these were without exception Caucasian coupes and families with mayonnaise complexions. Finally came our turn. We were scruffy from camping and wore t-shirts that showed our tattoos. But our paperwork was in order (a gift of sobriety). So we had valid registration, a current license, and ecen up-to-date inspection (which we'd almost never had while drinking). And of course, we were sober. So despite the tats, we were allowed to go on our way. I suppose I'll never know what prompted all the hubbub, but am going to guess it had something to do with 9-11.
Since those days, things have changed. And while there have been fewer warnings about broken car windows, we have had to endure aggressive TSA searches, warrantless wiretaps, the suspension of habeas corpus, and a range of other insults to our liberty as a people.
So let us remember on this day not only the lives lost on that terrible day, but the freedoms (both those taken and thse willingly surrendered) we have lost in the name of "security."
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
--Benjamin Franklin
Posted by: sparkly jules | September 12, 2011 at 01:10 AM