I’ve never committed a terrorist act in my life, at least I thought so. According to a test for DOD employees, protests qualify as a form of low level terrorism. And this is after many people felt they had been labeled “right wing extremists” after the Department of Homeland Security report was posted on the internet. Oh yeah, that’s the way to win ‘em over to your side, ain’t it?
In all fairness, this probably didn’t start under Obama. It’s probably been there a while, though I don’t recall seeing it in any testing I’ve done with the DOD. Still, that’s also not the kind of thing we dealt with back in my Navy days either, so there’s that to consider. This is likely something post 9/11.
A DOD spokesman claims that the context is that of overseas protests, not homegrown protests. However, I’m left asking if that really matters. Protesting is a time honored, non-violent way of having your voices heard by whoever you hope will hear them. It doesn’t matter the nationality of the protestors or what nation’s soil it takes place on. There’s no way in Hell I’d classify the protests in Iran as “terrorism” in any way. It’s people wanting to be heard, and nothing else.
What’s scary is that some may actually think those of us at the tea party were terrorists by this definition. They can think whatever they want. We were not trying to terrorize anyone. We were trying to raise attention for the millions of Americans who were fed up with bailouts and being taxed into oblivion to pay for the mistakes of others. We were not terrorists, and we will not be on July 4th when many of us gather in Plains, GA to make sure our voices are heard again. We will not be terrorists when we take to the streets in the future to protest against the abuses of our liberty that are sure to come with any administration.
Label me however you want. But at noon on July 4th, I still plan to take the stage and make my voice heard. I will still speak the words written from my heart, and I pray that those in attendence feel a stirring in their soul.
Labels don’t matter. Freedom does.
The Unites States has always been known for the great freedom and liberty that the people enjoy. To have our own government calling us extremist and terrorist should be enough to make everyone’s blood boil. You will not hear anyone associated with the administration call any radical Muslim group extremist or terrorist,so why is it okay to call our citizens such?
It is my urgent prayer that Americans wake up and become involved in their government before all of our liberties are gone.
I know how you feel. In my profile picture, I am wearing an Ecuador Hat I picked up during an eco-tourism trip to South America (Yes, they are still upset that President Theodore Roosevelt was pictured on a bulldozer in their traditional hat while he was visiting construction at the Panama Canal and the rest is history.)
Frequent developing world travel gave the security guy the idea that I was some kind of spy, dealer or otherwise unsavory figure. He took me down to the plane and took everything out of my bag. Then I remembered that an airport person a year earlier volunteered that I was on the no-fly list for traveling around too frequently. It’s called spending your pension while “between opportunities” and wishing that President Obama repairs the economy—that’s President Sasha Obama.
.-= Slyram´s last blog ..Common English Errors =-.
Donna: I agree completely. Well obviously since I wrote the post
The idea or perception of protesters as being terrorists bothers me in ways I can’t really write about here in polite company. To me, it doesn’t matter what country they’re from or what their ideology is, protesters have not now nor ever been considered “terrorists” by me and they damn well shouldn’t be by Uncle Sam.
Slyram: Are you kidding me? The idea of being on a no-fly because of the amount of traveling you do? That is probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. World travel is, in my opinion, a sign of prosperity for a nation. To label someone a terrorist because they’re seeing the world? That’s just stupid.