I've considered myself a conservative for a quite a long time. I've lived in Indiana for 12 years; I’ve got 3 kids and a minivan. My wife and I work for a pharmaceutical company, and typically vote republican. I've recently moved to Toronto at the behest of my company, and will most likely be here for 24-36 months. Canada is a very nice place to live, and I've been very appreciative of the support and concern that I've received from my Canadian co-workers and neighbors over the last few days.

Watching TV for the last few days (and happy that the Toronto cable system has added MSNBC last week), I've become very concerned that the events of the last few days will spawn what I fear will be a politically expedient reaction done by well meaning politicians in the interests of "safety". I fear that these changes will be done with the best intentions, but as always when politicians and bureaucrats get involved that it may not be the best thing. Most of the changes that I see coming (and I hope I’m not right) will be financed by compromises on our civil liberties.

I do not agree with the talking heads on TV that America is any less safe or that we’ve lost our innocence. New York continues to be a dangerous city. And our innocence was lost on that terrible day when the Federal Building was blown up in Oklahoma City. I think the FBI has thwarted *far more* more terrorist acts that it has allowed, and will continue to do so. The actions by these terrorists are no different that terrorists have done for the last 30+ years in many different countries. This week they were just “luckier”.

But I wonder what the government has in store for us in the interests of “safety”. I wonder what this country will be like without the freedom to move about, to keep private things private (like choosing to doing something as dumb as a mileage run without the third degree from a cop). I think that in order to keep some balance to the well-meaning politicians that someone should make sure that our personal freedoms are not eroded.

There is an organization out there that does that – The ACLU. I’ve not paid much attention to them before this week, but I think that in the coming weeks I will, and I may end up joining. Not something I thought I would do last week, but the ideas of more security cameras, the idea of a national ID card, the idea of restricting movement all in the interest of “safety” has me very nervous.

Sean (Still a conservative ex-pat in Toronto)



[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 09-13-2001).]

I am glad to see you posted this.

While I have lukewarm feelings about the ACLU, I am incredibly worried about civil rights right now.

It takes my breath away every time I hear a panicked American say on the news when ridiculous police-state tactics are discussed, "Hey, if it means safety, I'm all for it.."

As Jefferson said, "he who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserves neither."

It's just an illusion of safety - someone passionate who is willing to give his life is all but unstoppable.

Freedom has its risks.

As I'm sure all have seen, the level of moderation in Buzz the last few days has been very low. At some point this will change I suspect, but for now anything marginally related to flying will not generate much "Moderator2" action.

However in this case, the subject of this thread might be better followed in Omni.

Take care all,



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Craig6z
Buzz & United Moderator
[email protected]