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Any packages I've ever received from Europe/Asia/Africa pre-9/11 have been opened and already looked through when passing through customs. I do carry on correspondence with a person I met in a chat via snail mail who is from the UAE, I'm sure that looks suspicious as hell. But if the letter/package had caused any suspicion, it would have been intercepted far before it had gotten to me, to the best of my knowledge as long it was an international letter/package.
I'd hate to know what the mailman thinks when he sees where some of my letters are from. I probably look like some kind of international spy. I got involved with several pen-pal groups in the past, as it is something I really enjoy, and also receive letters from Ghana, Canada, France, Russia, and Germany. It's not often we exchange packages, which would probably cause more suspicion, due to the cost.
However, with the panic going on, I think I'd rather be safe than sorry, at least for the time being, and if someone found these letters to be somewhat disturbing, I don't think I would have a problem with someone reading them for content or searching through recent packages. Who knows, maybe this will prevent another 9/11 from happening, and for that, I can't protest giving up the possibilty of someone spying on me that could be beneficial in catching someone who is involved with terrorist organizations.
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all the posts that say that "if your not doing anything wrong it souldn't bother you" are the same people that in the 30's and 40's didn't realize , until it was to late, that the youth group that their sons joined would condem them but the "Hitler youth program" was a great success may their families rest in peace. My buisness is of no concern of anyone. I spent 8 years of my life defending this country in the USMC and i spent much time studing what the founding fathers where tring to accomplish and a nation of so called informants are not in the mix if you have something to say about how or what i am doing then i have every right to confront you as the accused
sorry if i have offended but these freedoms i hold dear and i WILL NOT give them away
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First of GG like the new graphics and sig. The point is just that your not doing anything wrong but you times that by thousands of other people across the US where are time and resources going checking out people that are doing nothing wrong. I would much rather have those resources going towards real threats that are assessed by professional people and that their time is devoted to that not because someone untrained reports you me or anyone else if you have 10,000 people reported and you check them all out the 10,001 may be the person that needs to be investagated but one was busy checking out the first 10,000.
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Jarhead
Jarhead I dont think we need to bring the Nazis into this, you are really stretching this thread to it's limits. Yet seeing as this is a Freedom discussion rant away. No offence intended, I am also former Marine. Yet I am also a family man. My primary concern at this point is the safety of my friends and family. The day that these freedoms we have sacrificed are used against citizens in either peacetime or for the wrong motive, I will be the first to argue the case.
I would hate to see the same situation that exists as a result of the Iaraeli/Palestinian dispute, in my city or town. At this point we are talking about self preservation. Imagine random bombings in the heart of your home town. I guarantee you would be willing to give up whatever it takes to protect your loved ones.
There is never anything wrong with questioning the acts of our Leaders, that is the only way we remain "A Nation Of the People".
Just FYI
MOS 0311
2/2 Golf Co.
CLNC
1988-1992
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Galdron then tell me what does the typical American family look like? All fathers protect their family but the US is full of people of many races and countries and many hold family connections to their extended family that may be 1/2 a world away. Face the fact and it is just this most of Europe, and third world countries deal with daily bombings it is a fact of life. Can we prevent it in the US are reporting 100,000 neighbors gonna find 10 people that pose a threat? How much time effort and resources go into checking out 100,000 reports? People that know this should be in charge me I'll report anything unsual yes to the local police is that call a valid concern yes I trust their professional standing but if this goes into effect their time and resources will be spread even more thin then they are. In short this stuff will cost $$$$ and as a voting tax payer I don;t want to waste professional time for a report by a mailman or meter reader that is not trained to really assess what is going on.
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Do you honestly beleive that 100,000 people are going to be reported by mailmen?
The typical "American" family is all based on each persons perception, and experience. It could look like a family from any nation in the world. That is the reason people migrate to this country. If people start reporting each other for nonsense, I think the problem would be far beyond what we are discussing. I thing we should all just learn to be accepting of others.
Sounds like im preaching Peace, but isn't that what we all hope for?
I hate to say it but the United States Postal service is in Debt, they would never specifically allocate assets to a spy program. Hell after the anthrax scare I would bet they dont open anyones mail.
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Quote:
Originally posted here by jarhead
all the posts that say that "if your not doing anything wrong it souldn't bother you" are the same people that in the 30's and 40's didn't realize , until it was to late, that the youth group that their sons joined would condem them but the "Hitler youth program" was a great success may their families rest in peace. My buisness is of no concern of anyone. I spent 8 years of my life defending this country in the USMC and i spent much time studing what the founding fathers where tring to accomplish and a nation of so called informants are not in the mix if you have something to say about how or what i am doing then i have every right to confront you as the accused
sorry if i have offended but these freedoms i hold dear and i WILL NOT give them away
I agree with you 100% on this, jarhead. I am also a former Marine, so I know exactly what you're talking about.
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from reading the report, i would not worry, all it is askin ppl to do is be more vigiliant, if suspious behaviour is happening or is seen to be happening then action will be taken, i believe a true american has nothin to worry about. your postman is not gonna report you because you are white, black, asian or any other race this is solely to help in the fight against crime and terrorism. the more people that help the less chance there is of a sept 11th happening again.
can we now talk computers!!!!!!!!!!!
yours 99
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This is another tactic the US government is using against a very scared and misinformed general public. The Gvt. is taking full advantage of the Septemeber 11 attacks and dubbing everything in the name of american patriotism. I too have learned of the postman deal, but the US postal service PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED IT WOULDNT PARTAKE in this invasion of privacy. With 1 million citizens partaking in this "T.I.P.S." deal im thankful the postman wont snoop my mail, ill probably give him a few bucks/cookies. Another thing most of you have probably heard of is the USA Patriot act, which is just a free pass for our Big brother to snoop on email without a warrant. More on that can be found in the spring issue of 2600.
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This reminds me of what the Stasi used to do in East Germany before the wall came down. This is extremely scary and will probably be used to target people that do not agree with the govts POV. Take this scenario for example: You're a postal carrier and deliver mail to an address XYZ(an apartment building). One resident there that you deliver for, has a foreign sounding name( or even a muslim name). You see that the person only gets ONE bill each month, whereas the average would be something like 4 or 5 e.g cable, phone, electricity, credit card whatever. Now on the surface yes, one could argue that it looks suspicious, no bills but electricity, what is the person upto????
Now unless people are psychic as to the true motivations in this case, this would in all likelihood be reported as "suspicious" correct? The real reason for only one bill is that I am separated from my wife,my bills still go to her address, i pick them up and it helps us stay in touch and work on our relationship etc. Does that make me a criminal? I hardly think so. But is there a chance that I will be harassed? Most definitely.
See it's not a matter of "..if you dont have anything to hide, you dont have anything to worry about..", like some have argued, it's a matter of innocent people being carted off for no reason and interrogated coz a postal worker thought my mail "habits" were not the norm.
It makes me think of a passage I read somewhere....."First they came for the...."
