So, yesterday I got my reader's digest in the mail. I was still reading one of my books, I didn't get to it until today. Every issue has feedback, that's outrageous, the jokes sections, etc. This month's issue had a rare thing. Their that's outrageous section only had one story. This is unusual as it is usually about 3 small articles. I'm going to tell you about it.
Apparently we have a new stupid person on the internet. Actually it's a man. With this man's logic, he is doing us, the american people, a service. He has a website. What's on it you ask, what is it that makes you call this man stupid? Apparently he thinks it's ok to post on the internet locations of natural gas pipelines, with pictures no less. This was done in preparation for the Republican National Convention. Now I don't like the republican's views on some things, but that has no real bearing here. Apparently our good samaritan thinks it wise to not only point out security flaws, but what you can do about them. Like blow up the pipeline that leads into Manhattan. Like tell the terrorists(whether they are homegrown or non-citizens) how to make attacks with little chance of being caught. Public service my ass! Is it really wise to do this? Not only that but, I've been repeatedly pissed off about how much the media, namely cnn and msnbc, tells anyone who is watching their programs about our security on different things. Locations of our Nuclear Energy facilites. We have one here in our area, it's for electricity but apparently the waste can be used for serious damage. Now anyone who wants to harm us doesn't even have to watch our 'hated' american television programs. They can look it up on the internet. It's wrong to assume that they are all uneducated and stupid. Come on, if they were all stupid and had no education they would be disorganized and unable to do any damage. It takes no brains to be a suicide bomber, but it takes at least a little to make the bombs and coordinate attacks. Yes, we have both home-grown and non-citizen terrorists. Home grown means they are citizens in our country, not necessarily live here. However many do. Non-citizen means they are not citizens. I believe most don't live in our country, but common sense tells us that some do.
Where do we draw the line? There was one man who demonstrated with pictures and video just how easy it was to access nuclear facilities and gas/oil pipelines. First he points it out to those in the company. Then the government agencies on up. Since no one wants to acknowledge there is a problem he goes to the media. Media plays/writes about it everywhere. Now, I know, 'they' can get their information by coming here etc., but do we really have to make it easier for them to find out? I think in this specific case, it may have been necessary. No one willing to do anything about it, hopefully they have fixed the problem. On a daily basis, if I have the patience, watching cnn or msnbc I could find out easily how to cause terror and mayhem right here in our country. Just by watching the program. Not only that, these and others have websites that say exactly the same thing. I'm sure with an internet search using one or two words, I could find out much more. We are not only making it easy for them to find 'targets', we are showing them exactly what to use and how to make it. I have heard about dirty bombs. I do believe I remember a bit on my tv on exactly how to make it. That's downright stupid and just inviting them to do it.
Another thing in the article. Websites listing names, photos, and addresses of government officials, police officers, even undercover ones. Apparently this is protected under freedom of speech. As long as they do not say explicitly to attack or take out these people. I am scared for the many undercover officers who are doing us a service. No matter my views on drugs and choices about them, this is wrong. They are doing us a favor. I know undercover officers aren't limited to only ones that take drug dealers of the street, I'm just using that as an example. No matter anyone's views on drugs, aren't you relieved that maybe just for that one day that dealer is not selling to your kid?! I am a strong believer in what you do is your own business, but come on. Jack's blog gives a very good view on how harmful that view can be. It's worth a look. I'm going to direct you to this page. It's the january archive. I am unsure where it is he points out the 'victimless' crime stuff. I know there is a reference in the first post on the page. You really should take the time to scan the archives. What he sees every day on the drug front should open your eyes to how many victims of one person's habit are. Namely: the kids. It's an eye-opener, and it makes me want to cry. Only drug I ever did was weed. I don't do that anymore, I quit because I have no desire to use it. It's a fairly simple thing. He has a way of writing that makes you see what is really there. Not what you see on tv and in movies. Maybe if we all could atleast 'see' into the lives and habits of drug users, we'd realize that any use is bad. Not only do you do damage to yourself, you do damage to the ones around you. You want your kids to make your mistakes? No you don't, but if you aren't honest they won't be able to learn from your mistakes. Telling your kid to just say no isn't good enough. They need to know the consequences. They need the tools you can give them to make the right decisions. You cannot be with your child every minute of every day. Who do you want your children to be educated by? The dealers and users or you? Just like the sex education thing. You want the little girl taught by an older boy or you? Reality check people, your kids are going to make these decisions, it is up to you as the parent to show them the realities of the outcomes of those decisions. Anyway, check out Jack, he's worth it. We can all agree to disagree, but it never hurt anyone to see the opposite side of the arguments. Back to the central point. These officers are doing us a service. They are taking the trash that encourage our kids to do drugs off the street. It may only be for an hour or a day. But, what if it was during that time your kid was gonna try to get his next fix. You want the dealer there for your kid, or in jail and harder for your kid to get it. From my personal expiriences and people I have known, most drug users have preferred dealers. Not only that, but, the fact that the drugs are illegal and fuck with your mind, users are paraniod. Unless they are extremely hard up, they will not normally go out to find another dealer. They will wait. That new dealer could be a cop. One of the main 'in common' things that drugs do to you is making you paranoid. One more off the street is a service. We should protect the identities of undercover officers. The deserve our respect. If you choose to show their name, address and/or face, you are enabling not only the dealer to identify them, but you are giving your child/loved one easier access to the drugs that are killing them. Use your damn brain and make the right choices.
*update* Jack came by and gave me the exact post I was looking for. I think he's psychic. Here it is. Go look at it. Oh, and Jack, I am very shy and don't like to be told I'm wrong. I have some opinions that are on the extreme side. Thanks for visiting. Again, sorry I forgot to check my Mozilla. Anyone can see my blog now, just not the adorable Mickey Mouse in the background. Switched to Firefox, I can't even see it. I'm going to surf a bit to see if there are html tags to make it visible to all.
That's all for now. Take a deep breath, use your brain, it's over now, you've survived another soapbox post. |