police state update...

[psybelle]

John Pike has generated a lot of really dark humor over the last few days (google "pepper spray cop" images for more...) and, yes, dark humor is a way of defusing/diffusing the pain of an unbearable situation.

But it doesn't change the fact that we've surrendered a lot of freedoms for the illusion of security - there's a piece over at Rolling Stone that covers this nicely.

And while the backlash has been enough that
the NYPD has issued new guidelines about the treatment/"freedom" of the press, it still doesn't change the general momentum towards more control, more militarization, and less oversight....


I don't know if letters or phonecalls to senators/ .gov of any kind will do any good at this point. But it can't hurt (much - I doubt letters are sufficient in and of themselves to put anybody on a no-fly list) and there are lovely guidelines over here...

Comments

[gramina]

"I doubt letters are sufficient in and of themselves to put anybody on a no-fly list..."

I find myself reminded of -- and perhaps inspired by -- a letter my mother wrote to HUAC back in the day (the House committee on Unamerican Activities), that read essentially: "Gentlemen: A grievous oversight has come to my attention: I am not on your list..."

I am in many ways only a shadow of my mom, but I can at least write some letters.