Op-Ed: Big Sis Is Out Of Control

Revelations that the Department of Homeland Security is instituting a program by which citizens will be asked to rat one another out has sent reverberations throughout the land.

Has 1984 finally come to America? First, it was the invasive body scans and pat-downs at U.S. airports. These sexual assaults on the American people may soon be extended to other forms of mass transportation.And in at least one major U.S. city, pat- downs are already being conducted by police on the streets targeting people who act suspicious, by doing things such as putting their hands in their coat pocket. How much more are we willing to endure in the name of maintaining our security? Janet Napolitano has now announced the new program, “If you see something, say something,” which was initially to be instituted in Wal-Mart stores, for the express purpose of encouraging Americans to spy on each other and report “suspicious activity” to law enforcement and Wal-Mart employees. This idea has been met with outrage. Now comes word that this program may be extended to 9000 federal buildings and sports stadiums. 1984-style Homeland Security telescreens, warning citizens to report all suspicious activity, brings to mind aspects of Nazi Germany and other historical dictatorships, with citizens turning against one another, creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust. This whole thing smacks of Barack Obama's idea for a National Civilian Security Force, which he touted during his 2008 presidential campaign.

White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

President Obama

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Having Americans begin turning on each other is just the first step in allowing an out of control government to crack down on our freedoms, and accuse citizens of crimes they may not have committed. This descent into paranoia could lead to Big Sis deciding that, for the good of the country, martial law needs to be imposed, curfews implemented, and citizens rounded up and placed in detention camps for an indefinite period. It is then only a matter of time before before we are living under dictatorial rule, something that the Founding Fathers would have found as repulsive as it is oppressive. So what should freedom-loving Americans do? Not much can be done about the program's implementation with regard to the federal buildings. But any business, whether it be a major retail outlet such as Wal-Mart, or a sports stadium or other venue which relies on the American public to spend its hard earned dollars, should be boycotted for willing to participate in such a ludicrous invasion of our rights and our privacy. Only then, can a clear message be sent that we will not allow Nazi Germany to come to the shores of America. Listen to America Talks weekends at 9 am Eastern Time.