LAND OF THE FREE - rev 2008

"Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

JUDGE, CHECK HIS RECORD
In the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, two cars both slightly cross over the white line in the center of the road. They collide and a fair amount of damage is done, although neither is hurt. It is impossible to assess blame for the accident on either however. They both get out. One is a doctor and the other is a lawyer. The lawyer calls the police on his cell phone; they'll be there in 20 minutes. It's cold and damp, and both men are shaken up. The lawyer offers the doctor a drink of brandy from his hip flask, the doctor accepts, drinks and hands it back to the lawyer, who puts it away.

Aren't you also going to have a drink? the doctor says.

After the police get here. replies the lawyer.

And just what will this poor doctor's record show after this conviction? - 2q(Jim)

LAND OF THE FREE, Rev. 2008
The federal government has been using its system of border checkpoints to greatly expand a database... by collecting information on all U.S. citizens crossing by land, compiling data that will be stored for 15 years and may be used in criminal and intelligence investigations.

Officials say the Border Crossing Information system... is part of a broader effort to guard against terrorist threats. It also reflects the growing number of government systems containing personal information on Americans that can be shared for a broad range of law enforcement and intelligence purposes, some of which are exempt from some Privacy Act protections...

The notice states that the government may share border records with federal, state, local, tribal or foreign government agencies in cases where customs believes the information would assist enforcement of civil or criminal laws or regulations, or if the information is relevant to a hiring decision.

That raises concerns, privacy advocates say, that analyses can be undertaken that could implicate innocent people if appropriate safeguards are not used.

washingtonpost.com, "Citizens' U.S. Border Crossings Tracked", Ellen Nakashima, August 20, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081902811_pf.html

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, Rev. 2008
WASHINGTON — A Justice Department plan would loosen restrictions on the Federal Bureau of Investigation to allow agents to open a national security or criminal investigation against someone without any clear basis for suspicion…

... the new guidelines would allow the F.B.I. to open an investigation of an American, conduct surveillance, pry into private records and take other investigative steps “without any basis for suspicion.” The plan “might permit an innocent American to be subjected to such intrusive surveillance based in part on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or on protected First Amendment activities,”...

The New York Times, "New Guidelines Would Give F.B.I. Broader Powers, " ERIC LICHTBLAU, August 21, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/washington/21fbi.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=us&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1219321192-+WTCoC0xxs2K+zsEqNCj4Q

Actually, the question is "How much do you trust the individuals in government?" Do you really want Joe Blow to have access to your bank accounts, traffic record, medical records, etc.? And do you really think that Jane Blow will forget all she learned about you after she loses the next election?

For those willing to answer "yes" to these questions, security is the prime consideration. They are willing to sacrifice individual liberty for a "feel-good" sense of security.

For those willing to answer "no" to these questions, liberty is the prime consideration. They place a very high value on individual liberty and will, themselves, fight to protect the liberty the United States of America claims to offer.

As a reminder…

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

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