A quote from Randy
Re: 9/11 Experiences<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #000000" SIZE=1><!-- google_ad_section_start -->Like most of America / World - I sat in front of my Television all day... Totally numb.
I had just flown in from a race weekend at Laguna Seca the previous day.
.
It was my wife's and my 25th wedding anniversary that day (9/11/1976) - What a way to remember that eh?
.
I've also not set foot in another airplane since.
Not that I'm worried that a terrorist would blow up the plane with his shoes or underwear - but because the world has come totally off the hook with the way they are "trying to secure us"..
Meanwhile - I drive or take a train to wherever I need to go. I won't go into it any more in this thread - maybe if someone starts another..<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
Randy, as per your request, here goes my rant: -
Whenever I fly (which is a few times a year, but not a huge amount), I am sickened by the excessive security in place. Arrive at the airport THREE HOURS before an international flight, only to sit in a bar for two hours waiting for your plane, IF you are lucky enough to get through the 8 mile long queue at security.
So, the purpose of this thread is to discuss the winners and losers in this "War Against Terror"...
The purpose of terrorism is to terrorise, this much we know. However, I take a diametrically opposed view to Government / Police / Army etc...
Right now there is only one winner - the Terrorist. They have forced us to change the way we live our daily lives in order to be "safer". This suits Government, because they can much easier control a cowed populace rather than one that is self determined.
If we took a straw poll (over to you here Randy, as I wouldn't know how to set up a poll on here) I would ask two questions: -
1. Do you accept the current security levels in place for travel and believe them to be of benefit, despite the incumberance it places on your daily life?
2. Would you accept a heavy reduction in the level of security (Police, CCTV, Army etc...) with the associated potential for more attacks?
I know my answer. I will take a higher risk for lower security levels. If we all said "ENOUGH" to the politicians (and the media, who drive the hype) then we can get back to a more normal life, without the levels of control in place.
Over here at the Labour conference of a few years ago, an old man in his 70's (or 80's, I can't recall) was heckling the Prime Minister (a certain Tony Bliar). He was surrounded by policemen, and arrested under the new Anti -Terrorism act....
Give me back my freedoms, ditch all the huge legislation regarding Terrorism. Send a message to the bombers: "You can get us every now and then, but frankly we don't care, We'll take a little collaterall damage along the way, but our way of life is too important for you to fuck us over anyway."
Then we will be the winners...
Apologies to any of you guys who had people in the WTC when they went down. I am calling this as I see it. We now live under a cloud of doom ready for the next terrorist attack. Well screw that, I'm going to live my life in the assumption that if and when it comes, I'll take my chances. Personal freedoms are worth a little risk....
Lets start the debate....
Graham.
Re: 9/11 Experiences<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #000000" SIZE=1><!-- google_ad_section_start -->Like most of America / World - I sat in front of my Television all day... Totally numb.
I had just flown in from a race weekend at Laguna Seca the previous day.
.
It was my wife's and my 25th wedding anniversary that day (9/11/1976) - What a way to remember that eh?
.
I've also not set foot in another airplane since.
Not that I'm worried that a terrorist would blow up the plane with his shoes or underwear - but because the world has come totally off the hook with the way they are "trying to secure us"..
Meanwhile - I drive or take a train to wherever I need to go. I won't go into it any more in this thread - maybe if someone starts another..<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
Randy, as per your request, here goes my rant: -
Whenever I fly (which is a few times a year, but not a huge amount), I am sickened by the excessive security in place. Arrive at the airport THREE HOURS before an international flight, only to sit in a bar for two hours waiting for your plane, IF you are lucky enough to get through the 8 mile long queue at security.
So, the purpose of this thread is to discuss the winners and losers in this "War Against Terror"...
The purpose of terrorism is to terrorise, this much we know. However, I take a diametrically opposed view to Government / Police / Army etc...
Right now there is only one winner - the Terrorist. They have forced us to change the way we live our daily lives in order to be "safer". This suits Government, because they can much easier control a cowed populace rather than one that is self determined.
If we took a straw poll (over to you here Randy, as I wouldn't know how to set up a poll on here) I would ask two questions: -
1. Do you accept the current security levels in place for travel and believe them to be of benefit, despite the incumberance it places on your daily life?
2. Would you accept a heavy reduction in the level of security (Police, CCTV, Army etc...) with the associated potential for more attacks?
I know my answer. I will take a higher risk for lower security levels. If we all said "ENOUGH" to the politicians (and the media, who drive the hype) then we can get back to a more normal life, without the levels of control in place.
Over here at the Labour conference of a few years ago, an old man in his 70's (or 80's, I can't recall) was heckling the Prime Minister (a certain Tony Bliar). He was surrounded by policemen, and arrested under the new Anti -Terrorism act....
Give me back my freedoms, ditch all the huge legislation regarding Terrorism. Send a message to the bombers: "You can get us every now and then, but frankly we don't care, We'll take a little collaterall damage along the way, but our way of life is too important for you to fuck us over anyway."
Then we will be the winners...
Apologies to any of you guys who had people in the WTC when they went down. I am calling this as I see it. We now live under a cloud of doom ready for the next terrorist attack. Well screw that, I'm going to live my life in the assumption that if and when it comes, I'll take my chances. Personal freedoms are worth a little risk....
Lets start the debate....
Graham.