islander wrote:
>
> My 2 cents on what we should NOT do...
>
> If we go about babbling about how the government is taking away all of
> rights, that personal freedom is at stake, President Clinton is the
> Anti-Christ, and that they will be coming for our children next...
>
> we will lose.
>
> Why? Because we will fit the VERY stereotype that our "enemies" wish to
> use as a weapon against us. Think about it. We will come across as the
> nut cases that they say we are; paranoid, gun loving, irrational,
> government haters, who get more radical and potentially dangerous each
> day. Not only will this get us nowhere with the Government, but it will
> destroy ANY hope of getting broader public support. Might as well toss
> our .30cals into our MVs and motor off into the woods to complete the
> picture.
>
> Some people here seem to know diddle about our country's history in this
> respect, while all the while complaining that things are going down hill
> fast (usually citing Clinton as the main reason). As someone with a
> degree in History, I can safely say that the United States of America (my
> own country) has NEVER, and I repeat, NEVER lived up to the Constitution
> or the Bill of Rights. However, I maintain that although there are
> problems with our laws, leaders, law enforcement, and society as a whole,
> the country is a lot closer to living up to the Founding Father's
> expectations than it ever has been. Don't believe me, take this quick
> history test:
>
> 1. When did "all men are created equal" apply to "all men" (a. 1776, b.
> 1860s, c. 1960s)
>
> Bonus question - when did the concept of equality apply to the other 50%
> of the population in the form of the right to vote?
>
> 2. I which order did the following countries use Concentration Camps as
> a means of rounding up undesirable, racially inferior enemies of the
> state in order to kill them en mass (as opposed to just imprisoning
> them)? (Cambodia, Great Britain, Nazi Germany, Serbia, Turkey, United
> Sates).
>
> 3. Which President was responsible for stripping all rights and property
> away from a section of its citizens without any regard to the rights
> guaranteed them by the Constitution and Bill of Rights? (a. Madison, b.
> FDR, c. Clinton).
>
> Bonus question - while this group was being rounded up into camps, what
> two other racial groups were left untouched even though the same logic
> for the round up applied to them as well?
>
> 4. In what centuries were State and Federal troops used to shoot unarmed
> striking workers simply because they wanted better working conditions and
> pay.
>
> 5. True or False - has a married heterosexual couple, in the privacy of
> their own home, always had the right to have sex in any position they so
> desired according to local and state laws in all states?
>
> 6. Name at least 2 other countries that the United Sates invaded without
> a declaration of war, besides Vietnam, Russia, Honduras, and Panama.
>
> 7. Name two wars that the US started by drawing first blood and then
> rewrote history to blame the start on the losing side?
>
> 8. Misc - In what year did the police have to justify a search warrant
> with specific evidence to a judge? When did police lose the right to
> search a person without "due cause"? When did evidence, seized in
> violation of a citizen's rights, become inadmissible in court? When did
> the Miranda Rights first come into use to ensure that a citizen knows his
> rights? When did every citizen, regardless of ability to pay, gain the
> right to legal representation in court? (HINT, the first two digits are
> "1" and "9" for all of these answers).
>
> My point here is that our country has "violated" our rights since day one
> (and therefore this MV thing is NOTHING new) yet it remains the freest
> and fairest nation on this planet. On balance it has even become MORE
> law abiding and fairer for the majority (minorities and women make up a
> majority BTW) of its citizens in VERY recent times. Sure, I don't want
> to be denied the right to own a gun, MV, or whatever else I can
> reasonably use without infringing on the rights and safety of others.
> But people, you have GOT to lose the "Clinton is plotting to take over
> the world with the BATF and UN" garbage. It will only help get us in the
> exact OPPOSITE place we want to be.
>
> I will fight against my government for trying to restrict these rights,
> and any others that I feel are being violated. But I will do so only in
> a rational, cool headed way without resorting to name calling and finger
> pointing. I urge you to do the same.
>
> End of my rant.
>
> Steve
>
> P.S. Lets try and keep the hate mail going to my inbox to a minimum
> (preferably none). After all, we are on the same side even if we don't
> see eye to eye.
>
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