It was a slow process, the loss of the nation's freedom.
Actually it was given up in the name of national safety. Slowly over time, the country gave up its rights, so that it could feel safe from terrorist, and national enemies.
Now, when everyone realized what had really happened, it was too late.
The country had elected it's first racially and religious different leader. At first, it was widely hailed; the diversity of the county was being shown in action. It showed that people, who had assimilated into the country, could rise and become business owners, CEO's, college professors, lawyers, doctors, and government leaders.
The new leader knew it wasn't really a matter of ethnics, for in his belief all people were embraced. Embraced as long as you upheld their beliefs and suppressed your own. In time, people would come to believe that their beliefs and the religious beliefs were exactly the same.
Over time, the face of the government began to change, but no one notices, fewer women were being elected. New laws, supposedly for the safety of the country were being passed, supplementing those already in place.
The first of the new laws were extremely small, hardly noticed by the public. Trade given to favorite countries that held the same national beliefs and policies Nothing new about that, this policy had been going on for years, every since the beginning of the country.
Next came new work codes. How many hours you could work, where you would work and what you would be doing. Then dress codes, which may or may not have been needed, it depended on how you dressed. Then came the morals codes. Neighbors could report a neighbor if they felt that their language or demeanor did not quite meet the state mandate.
Women and minorities, or those, which the government felt were minorities, began to be excluded. So slowly, that no one notice in the beginning. The government stated that the terrorist threat was at a high level, women and children should not go out unless accompanied by a male family member, for security reasons. Than came the edit that women should not be in the work place, but at home, and if they were working, their spouse or nearest male relative should bring in the work. Eventually even that was stopped. Woman stayed inside, if they needed something out of the home, then they had to be escorted at all times until they reached home, again for reasons of security.
Then came the dress code for women. The government felt women were a distraction to hard working men, especially women who were not a spouse or relative. At first, just the dresses got longer, had to come down pass the knees, then the calf, then down to the ankles, finally it must hit the ground. Next, the head had to be covered, and the last clothing law, the face had to be covered, so that no man could be tempted; and no bright colors outside of the home.
Under the laws issued by the federal government, women had become virtual prisoners of their male relatives in their home.
Personal freedoms became a memory talked about by the grandparents. Now the government dictated what you did, when you did it, and where you were able to do it. All this was done in the name of national safety.
Over time, personal liberties were forgotten, and since the government had become a virtual dictatorship, elected officials who did not support the government one hundred percent began to disappear. Finally, the government officials were dismissed, and only the president could make laws. Now, even the resemblance of a free and democratic government was gone.
Sound familiar; remember what happened in Germany, China and Russia?
This is just a story, but it is a fact that we all want to feel safe and secure, and we expect our leaders to provide it for us.
In today's society that feeling of security is being tested. The air we breathe, the water we drink, even the ground we walk on can be made toxic. Our phone conversations can and are listened to and loss of personal identity is becoming a world with epidemic. With long range missiles and stealth technology, no country is safe from attach.
My question is how do we, as a nation, balance our freedom and security without losing one or the other.or both? Democracy and freedom is a very fragile idea, hard won but ones which can be easily lost.
Wars can be raged in many different ways, active assaults, wars of words, ideology and physiological. We should not let a war of words or physiology cost us our hard won freedoms. It is these very freedom which has become a beacon to the world, which other countries are striving to reach.
Michele Winslow 2008
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Sunday, February 24, 2008 View other articles written by Michele Winslow(467)
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