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View Full Version : How YOU can be a good citizen


shanek
12th February 2003, 07:46 AM
Here's how you can be a good citizen and help fight the War on Terror, courtesy the Department of Homeland Security (does that name scare anyone else, or am I the only one who's read The Handmaid's Tale?):

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=36

"Provide Tips and Leads about Suspicious Activity"; or, as a poster my avatar once encountered said, "Be a government informer! Betray your family and friends! Fabulous prizes to be won!" (Yes, they offer monetary rewards.)

"Travel Safety: Know Before You Go"; where you have to justify all of your out-of-country purchases before returning to the US. Personal property means nothing.

"Travel Safety: Permitted and Prohibited Items"; because you could kill a pilot with that nail file. It'd only take an hour or so...

"Travel in Safety"; because it's not like the intrusive security scans are doing any good.

"Citizen Safety: Protect Yourself!" But, fer gosh sakes, whatever you do, don't use a weapon for defense!

"Check the current threat level." "The Current Threat Level: Orange, or High Condition. A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks." Or when the President needs to justify a futile war and the Attorney General needs another excuse to take away more of our rights with Patriot Act II: The Sequel (or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Big Brother).

The Department of Homeland Security: Because those who would give up their liberty for safety, are all right by us!

Vorticity
12th February 2003, 07:59 AM
Originally posted by shanek
...the Department of Homeland Security (does that name scare anyone else, or am I the only one who's read The Handmaid's Tale?)
Don't forget our new "Information Awareness Office", with the world's creepiest logo:

Graham
12th February 2003, 08:12 AM
Originally posted by Vorticity

Don't forget our new "Information Awareness Office", with the world's creepiest logo:

That is scary.

Hey, a little off topic, I heard that that eye-on-top-of-a-pyramid was a freemason thing.

Does anyone know off-hand if that's true or, if not, what it's really supposed to be?

Graham

Occasional Chemist
12th February 2003, 08:16 AM
Originally posted by Graham
Does anyone know off-hand if that's true or, if not, what it's really supposed to be?

An Alan Parsons Project album cover?

Occasional Chemist
12th February 2003, 08:30 AM
Originally posted by shanek

"Travel Safety: Permitted and Prohibited Items"; because you could kill a pilot with that nail file. It'd only take an hour or so...


Just remember that


If you bring a prohibited item to the checkpoint, you may be criminally and/or civilly prosecuted [...] This is because bringing a prohibited item to a security checkpoint - even accidentally - is illegal.


"Put down that pair of pliers or I'll fire!"

Look at their list. Any "tool" except a jeweler's screwdriver is on the prohibeted as carry-on list. Even a normal pair of scissors (though child's safety scissors seem to be okay).

BTW - nail files specifically are allowed. Sorry, shanek. :)

Richard G
12th February 2003, 08:51 AM
It's stange that they never mention arming oneself. That would be the first thing I would encourage everyone to do. If you don't have a CCW liscense, get one, and carry often. [thats always]

An armed citizenry is the best frontline defense against terroism.

shecky
12th February 2003, 09:08 AM
I just watched "Brazil" again last night. Director's cut.

I was especially amused by all the propaganda posters that can be seen in the background. DHS seems to have used these as a template.

shanek
12th February 2003, 09:18 AM
Originally posted by Occasional Chemist
BTW - nail files specifically are allowed. Sorry, shanek. :)

Oops. I was thinking of nail trimmers. I need an egg-on-face smiley...

Lemastre
12th February 2003, 01:27 PM
Originally posted by Graham

Hey, a little off topic, I heard that that eye-on-top-of-a-pyramid was a freemason thing.
Does anyone know off-hand if that's true or, if not, what it's really supposed to be?

The eye on the pyramid is an ancient symbol adopted by the Masons and used by others, including the designers of American money. The Masons claim its meaning on our currency differs some from the significance they ascribe to it.

Richard G
12th February 2003, 03:39 PM
It's the eye of God. [pyramid]