proud to speak your mind? Think again...
Oct. 27th, 2004 02:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lagilmanhttp://www.livejournal.com/users/anniesj/331112.html
Mind you, I understand the need for awareness. Most of the Secret Service guys I've met have been pretty cool (even the ones I dunked with a bucket of water). There are a lot of crazies out there, and they fixate on public figures, and the SecSer and the Feds need to be aware and on top of things. But these was...extreme. And for a LJer to have turned the poster in -- the mind boggles. Satire, people. It is still protected. Mostly.
And don't think that locking your posts can protect you -- nope. It's a matter of a simple subpoena under the Patriot Act for them to get access to that (unless LJ should happen to have a massive melttdown and memory wipe just before the Feds busted down the door, which, y'know, these popular services, it can happen)
Personally, while only a portion of what goes into this journal is public access, I never lock my political rants. So I'll say right here that I'm scary only in the sense that I have a brain and use it to think. If that's something the Feds need to be investigating, well then, bring it on. You know where to find me.
Mind you, I understand the need for awareness. Most of the Secret Service guys I've met have been pretty cool (even the ones I dunked with a bucket of water). There are a lot of crazies out there, and they fixate on public figures, and the SecSer and the Feds need to be aware and on top of things. But these was...extreme. And for a LJer to have turned the poster in -- the mind boggles. Satire, people. It is still protected. Mostly.
And don't think that locking your posts can protect you -- nope. It's a matter of a simple subpoena under the Patriot Act for them to get access to that (unless LJ should happen to have a massive melttdown and memory wipe just before the Feds busted down the door, which, y'know, these popular services, it can happen)
Personally, while only a portion of what goes into this journal is public access, I never lock my political rants. So I'll say right here that I'm scary only in the sense that I have a brain and use it to think. If that's something the Feds need to be investigating, well then, bring it on. You know where to find me.
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no subject
Date: 2004-10-28 02:14 pm (UTC)But I'm most offended by the snitch. I did not read through the 68 pages of comments posted - but what I want to know is this:
Did the person who turned her in have enough courage of convictions to stand up and say she was the one who did it?
What of the constitutional right to face our accusers?
Not to mention a certain moral responsibility for possibly f**king up this person's life.
I know a no-fly ban for me would jeopardize not only my ability to do business and make a living, it would make it nearly impossible for me to see many of my relatives ever again.
I'm afraid there are more than a few "informers" running around turning folks in as just one more way to express their political affiliation. It's not unlike the Bush campaign making folks sign LOYALTY oaths just to listen to one of his live speeches.
They're playing fast and loose with other people's lives not because they think there's a real threat, but because they don't like the other person's political beliefs. Being offended is not just cause for making a report to the Secret Security or FBI.