Posted on Dec 26, 2013

Security vs. Liberty - Have we jumped the shark as a nation?

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This story:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/25/federal-judge-rules-that-tsa-fbi-can-detain-and-arrest-you-for-carrying-arabic-flashcards/

Short Version:

A man was detained for many hours and had his personal property searched through at an airport because he was carrying flashcards with Arabic writing on them. Yes, there words also words like "bomb" and "terrorist" in the deck.

This is worrisome to me, personally, because, as a Soldier, I have been taught and expected to learn some rudimentary Arabic. Sometimes I fly commercial. It would not be unheard of for me to have similar cards with me.

As a private citizen, this absolutely crosses the line that separates reasonable search and seizure from paranoia on the part of the government. How far do we have to go before we are required to let the government search anything and everything in the name of "national security"?

Federal judge rules that TSA, FBI can detain and arrest you for carrying Arabic flashcards | The Raw Story

A former college student detained at Philadelphia International Airport after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials discovered he was carrying Arabic language flashcards lost his bid ...

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Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 4

LTC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

“They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a
little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” – Benjamin Franklin
in the Pennsylvania Assembly’s Reply to the Governor (11 NOV 1755) 

At this point it looks like Ben Franklin would say we are
'getting what we deserve'.

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MAJ Bryan Zeski

>1 y

I survived 1984. I hope they don't have to.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

It is the slow degradation of liberty that is allowing us to fall deeper into socialism. It is the dumbing down of our society that is allowing it to happen.

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MAJ Bryan Zeski

>1 y

It is possible for liberty and some socialism to co-exist - one does not exclude the existence of the other. We could have universal health care in the United States and maintain privacy and security in our personal lives that the Founders intended. I don't see where the two are inexorably linked.

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MAJ Bryan Zeski

>1 y

I don't mind being down-thumbed... but I am curious as to why...

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LT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I think the TSA should be pulled back greatly. I do not see a point to all this searching plus with a the security leaks in an airport, it is just ridiculous how much actually gets by that TSA never sees. We need to rethink our security strategy. Standing the highest level of security for too long makes routine and routine is more dangerous than less security. We just need something different.

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SPC Charles Brown

Posted 10 y ago

Here is my opinion on this issue: We have tried to "Jump the shark" in this nation, and unfortunately we landed square in the jaws of the very same animal we are trying to avoid. " Those willing to give up liberty for security deserve niether and will lose both " Benjamin Franklin. Anyone care to play devil's advocate? Step up now I can take it.

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Security vs. Liberty - Have we jumped the shark as a nation?

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