THEY ARE WATCHING YOU

Ripley, Amanda (2004) EYES AND EARS OF THE NATION, TIME, June 5, p.38-39.

They are watching you.

Numerous transportation workers (bus drivers, truck drivers, and van operators) are now monitoring your behavior. Wherever you are in public, individuals that are continually on the road, watch for terrorist behavior. What does that mean? It’s a secret. The organization provides a 2 hour training sessions and each individual is certified by the government to be a terrorist observer.

If you look suspicious or are involved in suspicious behavior, these individuals will call a secret number and the various local and federal law enforcement agencies may check you out.

The problem is do you look like a terrorist or are you involved in terrorist activity? The first category is “profiling” the second is still a mystery. However, two activities are known. One is if you are taking pictures and the second is if you are handling heavy material in a very cautious way.

One should be especially concerned if one looks like an “Islamist.” That means do you wear a turban? Are you dark colored (by white standards) but not too dark. As an example, Sikhs wear turn bins, but are not Muslim.

Some neighborhood watch groups will become involved according to this report, as well as other community groups. This is all part of the homeland security effort.

The program is starting in the south and should move all across the country. Various groups on both the right and the left have voiced opposition.

One should be prepared to be stopped and questioned about one’s activity, origin, behavior, and related. Or, law enforcement may come to your home to check you out.

We are now entering a new world of American democracy.