"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value." (The War Against Terrorism)

Member Name: mattygroves10

Product:	The War Against Terrorism
Date:	10/08/06 (408 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Precious

Disadvantages: Costly

"A terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the US has been disrupted, Scotland Yard has said. It is thought the plan was to detonate up to three explosive devices smuggled on aircraft in hand luggage. " From www.bbc.co.uk/news 10 August 2006.

As a result of the foiled terrorist plot, all hand luggage has been banned on flights to, from or within the UK. Any allowed items (sanitary towels, tampons, nappies, contact lenses) must be carried in a clear plastic bag. Nothing may be carried in pockets.

Well done. But surely these precautions don't go far enough. Plastics explosives have evolved to such an extent that they could be carried on the person, and cannot be detected by conventional means. Terrorists are wiling to sacrifice their lives in the name of martyrdom, in the name of a cause (the cause itself is irrelevant). Safety demands a high price, and the loss of personal freedom, responsibility, accountability and dignity is surely but a small price to pay for the comfort of the appearance of safety. However, one cannot put the genie of cheap air travel back in the bottle - we will not ban air travel.

Therefore I propose the following measures, effective immediately:

1. Blood, hair and saliva tests for DNA profiling and cross checking against known criminals. Technology should be developed to determine a propensity for fanaticism, obsession and depression. Identified individuals should be prohibited from flying.

2. No luggage of any sort to be allowed on aircraft. Passengers must purchase any items they are likely to need at their destination upon arrival. Not only will this ensure that no explosive or sharp materials can be brought on the aircraft, it has the bonus of enhancing the economies of the destination nations.

3. All passengers to be handcuffed or otherwise restrained in their seats. This will ensure that staff and passengers cannot be threatened with physical violence. Any 'comfort' breaks to be taken whilst accompanied by a member of airline staff (and/or an air marshal) and the doors to the lavatories to be removed.

These measures will certainly ensure that the population feel that 'something is being done'. However, do they go far enough? Should the threat level still be considered unacceptable, further restrictions could be applied.

Clothing is not permitted. All passengers must travel naked, and may be subject to full internal and external searches. There will be no exemptions, as bad guys may use unwitting vectors for their evilness, including the very young and very old.


OK, enough. Perhaps you see what I'm getting at. In the name of safety and security, we allow freedoms to be eroded, liberties to be curtailed, and all of us to be treated as terrorists and criminals. Naturally, you could argue that the (real) restrictions are right and proper - that it's certainly better to be inconvenienced than blown up. But here's the rub - how safe do these restrictions make us. Can they really save our lives, especially when applied retrospectively (closing the barn door after the horse has bolted)? Are we really that much safer? How much safety is worth paying for? When does the price become too high?

Now, let's examine the whole concept of safety. People have a very skewed view of the world, and of danger. Do you feel that tasting your baby's food before boarding a plane to satisfy authorities that the jar of pureed peas is not in fact liquid explosive a reasonable precaution? Tell me then: do you smoke? You are surely more likely to die from a smoking related illness than from a terrorist attack.

Would you wear a helmet to guard against meteor strikes? Why not? Because they are unlikely? Because it wouldn't help against a rock hurtling at your head at hundreds of miles an hour? Because you cannot control the actions of rocks? Fear things you can change.

"The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear."
Aung San Suu Kyi (1945 - )

I am a fearful person. Heights scare me rigid - I am convinced I am going to fall. I am afraid of getting lost, to the point of tears sometime. My heart pounds in my chest when I think I'm going to be 'in trouble' - be told off by my family or my employers. I hate making a fool of myself, and can barely move for shaking when I've done so.

There is a difference between fear and worry. I fear things I feel that will affect me directly, that I think are likely, that will be my fault, that are within my control. The threat of terrorism worries me - but it doesn't scare me. I worry that my (now defunct) smoking habit has adversely affected my health. It doesn't terrify me. I cannot now control it or change it.

We are like the rabbits of Efrafa in Watership down - prepared to sacrifice liberty in return for a feeling of safety.

As a wise woman (OK, me) said: "Today, I am worried. Tomorrow - who knows? Maybe I'll buy into the police state by the back door. Maybe I'll turn a blind eye. Maybe I'll change who and what I am, so that I can remain an 'I am'. Maybe I'll sacrifice ME so that I can feel safe as part of an US or a WE or a MANY. Maybe. Many other people have."

The terrorists have, today, succeeded. We are terrified. , we are willing to sacrifice everything to feel safe. For it's not real security - only an illusion. A determined killer will kill us. A determined terrorist will terrify us. They've won, we've lost. And what has been taken can never be returned.



This is a companion piece to "as freedom is a breakfast food". The concerns then are the fears now.

Summary: "The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear."