| Stripping Away American Freedom: A Call to Action |
| by The Loveshade Family (this was initially posted online as being by Reverend Loveshade, which at the time was an alias used by more than one person.) |
This short opinion piece was first posted on BloodStar's site on Dec. 1, 2001. It
was a reaction to the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the
United States of America, but also reflected on other parts of the world. It was one
of a group of essays, letters and e-mails about threats to freedom in America and
the world, and how governments' "protection" of their citizens were becoming a
bigger threat to freedom than the terrorists themselves. Some of these pieces,
composed by members of the Discordian Division of the Ek-sen-triks CluborGuild
and The Loveshade Family, were posted and/or sent to legislators and other
leaders in America, Great Britain, and the United Nations. Some members worked
actively against the threats to freedom and fundamental rights, and worked to
focus on preparing people for the future.
As a result of this and other works including short stories, essays, plays,
photographs, drawings, books, letters, e-mails, and other "dangerous" and
"obscene" material (including "How to Raise a Terrorist" of 2001), some members
were questioned, some had their property and bodies searched, some had their
work seized (this includes some items posted on this site), and some were even
arrested. Ironically, many of the things the group warned against happened to
them. One associate, under mysterious circumstances that "coincidentally"
occurred during this time, died.
As a judge is currently considering dismissing the last of about a dozen charges
that were threatened, we won't comment more on this for now. But we will when we
can.
The text below is exactly as it was posted, except that the old email has been
removed and a link has been updated. You may find Reverend Loveshade's
current email at our home page at discordia.loveshade.org.
was a reaction to the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the
United States of America, but also reflected on other parts of the world. It was one
of a group of essays, letters and e-mails about threats to freedom in America and
the world, and how governments' "protection" of their citizens were becoming a
bigger threat to freedom than the terrorists themselves. Some of these pieces,
composed by members of the Discordian Division of the Ek-sen-triks CluborGuild
and The Loveshade Family, were posted and/or sent to legislators and other
leaders in America, Great Britain, and the United Nations. Some members worked
actively against the threats to freedom and fundamental rights, and worked to
focus on preparing people for the future.
As a result of this and other works including short stories, essays, plays,
photographs, drawings, books, letters, e-mails, and other "dangerous" and
"obscene" material (including "How to Raise a Terrorist" of 2001), some members
were questioned, some had their property and bodies searched, some had their
work seized (this includes some items posted on this site), and some were even
arrested. Ironically, many of the things the group warned against happened to
them. One associate, under mysterious circumstances that "coincidentally"
occurred during this time, died.
As a judge is currently considering dismissing the last of about a dozen charges
that were threatened, we won't comment more on this for now. But we will when we
can.
The text below is exactly as it was posted, except that the old email has been
removed and a link has been updated. You may find Reverend Loveshade's
current email at our home page at discordia.loveshade.org.
| * * * * * |
| Stripping Away American Freedom: A Call to Action by Reverend Loveshade December 1, 2001 |
Reverend Loveshade has given permission for this to be copied and posted freely
as long as the author's name is listed and the content is unchanged. I think it's
important enough to post here. You can contact the Rev. with questions or
comments at (old mail removed--see current email at discordia.loveshade.org)
More than one person in the United States of America, conservative and liberal,
has accurately pointed out that our freedoms are being quickly stripped away in
this time of terrorism. The FBI is investigating people on the basis of race and sex;
freedom of the press is being challenged; suspects are being held without bail
indefinitely unless they "voluntarily" cooperate; attorney-client rights are being
ignored; political activists are automatically being searched at airports and even
told they can't fly; your phone may be tapped without a warrant; and restrictions on
the FBI's interference with churches may be disappearing.
Terrorism has created terror, and terrified, irrational people will give up anything to
feel protected. This is true even if it means losing the very freedoms the terrorists
are threatening. How many fundamental American rights and values will we violate
in order to preserve fundamental American rights and values?
Expressing our views on these problems with each other can be healthy, letting out
our frustrations and finding others who support our viewpoints. But how much does
this accomplish outside of your group of friends and your own head? What can
you do?
If you really want to do something, express how you feel to someone in power. If
you don't know how to contact your representatives, you can go to First Gov at
http://www.firstgov.gov. Look to the left and you'll see Contact Your
Government. The House of Representatives and Senate are under By Agency
(or you can go directly to the Representatives listing at
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html and the Senate listing at
http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm) Or check your phone book
or newspaper for government listings.
Write a letter/phone/e-mail. Thank those who are supporting what you believe in;
tell those you disagree with that you disagree. If you don't know their record, tell
them what you believe. Some estimates say a single letter is considered equal to
500 to 1,000 people because so few people write.
If you believe corporations largely run the country and buy the politicians, contact
businesses that have acted on these issues (for example, businesses that sponsor
a television program that allows free discussions, or by contrast ones who have
pulled sponsorship from such a program). And you can financially support a
non-profit organization that you believe is working to preserve American Freedom
in this time of paranoia.
I used to wonder how people could have done nothing when innocent
Japanese-Americans were ripped from their homes and businesses during World
War II, or when innocent people had their careers destroyed during the Communist
"Witch Hunts" of the 1950s. Now I think I know the answer: many people like us
complained to each other and did little else while the masses, while perhaps
well-intentioned, were blinded by fear and ignorance. Don't wait for your
grandchildren to ask you why you watched fundamental American freedoms being
stripped away and did nothing.
as long as the author's name is listed and the content is unchanged. I think it's
important enough to post here. You can contact the Rev. with questions or
comments at (old mail removed--see current email at discordia.loveshade.org)
More than one person in the United States of America, conservative and liberal,
has accurately pointed out that our freedoms are being quickly stripped away in
this time of terrorism. The FBI is investigating people on the basis of race and sex;
freedom of the press is being challenged; suspects are being held without bail
indefinitely unless they "voluntarily" cooperate; attorney-client rights are being
ignored; political activists are automatically being searched at airports and even
told they can't fly; your phone may be tapped without a warrant; and restrictions on
the FBI's interference with churches may be disappearing.
Terrorism has created terror, and terrified, irrational people will give up anything to
feel protected. This is true even if it means losing the very freedoms the terrorists
are threatening. How many fundamental American rights and values will we violate
in order to preserve fundamental American rights and values?
Expressing our views on these problems with each other can be healthy, letting out
our frustrations and finding others who support our viewpoints. But how much does
this accomplish outside of your group of friends and your own head? What can
you do?
If you really want to do something, express how you feel to someone in power. If
you don't know how to contact your representatives, you can go to First Gov at
http://www.firstgov.gov. Look to the left and you'll see Contact Your
Government. The House of Representatives and Senate are under By Agency
(or you can go directly to the Representatives listing at
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html and the Senate listing at
http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm) Or check your phone book
or newspaper for government listings.
Write a letter/phone/e-mail. Thank those who are supporting what you believe in;
tell those you disagree with that you disagree. If you don't know their record, tell
them what you believe. Some estimates say a single letter is considered equal to
500 to 1,000 people because so few people write.
If you believe corporations largely run the country and buy the politicians, contact
businesses that have acted on these issues (for example, businesses that sponsor
a television program that allows free discussions, or by contrast ones who have
pulled sponsorship from such a program). And you can financially support a
non-profit organization that you believe is working to preserve American Freedom
in this time of paranoia.
I used to wonder how people could have done nothing when innocent
Japanese-Americans were ripped from their homes and businesses during World
War II, or when innocent people had their careers destroyed during the Communist
"Witch Hunts" of the 1950s. Now I think I know the answer: many people like us
complained to each other and did little else while the masses, while perhaps
well-intentioned, were blinded by fear and ignorance. Don't wait for your
grandchildren to ask you why you watched fundamental American freedoms being
stripped away and did nothing.
| * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
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