[Think] John Perry Barlow warns of a police state [9.11]

[Fen Labalme]

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I've attached a note from John Perry Barlow, co-founder of the EFF, that
reminded me of the Reichstag Fire that sparked Nazism, see e.g.
http://www.weyrich.com/political_issues/reichstag_fire.html



Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 13:38:15 -0700
To: John Perry Barlow <barlow@eff.org>
From: John Perry Barlow <barlow@eff.org>
Subject: BarlowFriendz 7.4: Remember The Reichstag...

----------------------------------------------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!---->>>>>!

*DO* WORRY ABOUT US. AND, MORE TO THE POINT, U.S.


As most of you know, I believe that the United States has gradually, 
subtly, invisibly to most of us, become a police state over the last 
30 years.

This morning's events are roughly equivalent to the Reichstag fire 
that provided the social opportunity for the Nazi take-over of 
Germany.

I am *not* suggesting that, like the Nazis, the authoritarian forces 
in America actually had a direct role in perpetrating this 
mind-blistering tragedy. (Though their indirect role deserves a much 
longer discussion.)

Nevertheless, nothing could serve those who believe that American 
"safety" is more important than American liberty better than 
something like this. Control freaks will dine on this day for the 
rest of our lives.

Within a few hours, we will see beginning the most vigorous efforts 
to end what remains of freedom in America. Those of who are willing 
to sacrifice a little - largely illusory - safety in order to 
maintain our faith in the original ideals of America will have to 
fight for those ideals just as vigorously.

I beg you to begin NOW to do whatever you can - whether writing your 
public officials, joining the ACLU or EFF, taking to the streets, or 
living visibly free and fearless lives - to prevent the spasm of 
control mania from destroying the dreams that far more have died for 
over the last two hundred twenty five years than died this morning.

Don't let the terrorists or (their natural allies) the fascists win. 
Remember that the goal of terrorism is to create increasingly 
paralytic totalitarianism in the government it attacks. Don't give 
them the satisfaction.

Fear nothing. Live free.

And, please, let us try to forgive those who have committed these 
appalling crimes. If we hate them, we will become them.

May God - or Whatever you want to call It - bless us all. We'll need it.


Barlow


-- 
John Perry Barlow, Cognitive Dissident
Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, Electronic Frontier Foundation
Berkman Fellow, Harvard Law School

Home(stead) Page: http://www.eff.org/~barlow

**************************************************************

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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-- 
Fen Labalme
http://www.OpenPrivacy.org

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated"
              - the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

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