In today's climate (Post WTC), can you be classified as a terrorist? In the broad sense the answer is probably yes if you do not trust the government. Militia groups would definately be classified as a terrorist organization since, for the most part, they distrust the government. What if they (government) decide to issue a national ID card? If you refuse to get one would that mean you don't support our country? Would this in turn place you in the category of the anti-government groups (read terrorist)? Am I being a tad paranoid? Maybe. :-)

-- Mike (uyk7@hotmail.com), October 06, 2001

Answers

You've probably noticed that when the news covers militia groups, they always focus on the lawbreaking white-separatist ones, NOT the law abiding, peaceful ones. The whole concept of a militia was to have a force of armed citizens in place to fight government tyranny and abuse (so you can see the silliness of the anti 2nd Amendment's explanation that the Founders meant a "state" militia), of which we have plenty these days.

As for the national ID, if one is ever issued it will be counterfeited in a hot second just like drivers licenses, Social Security cards, and green cards and will therefore only be for show with no real effect. You are not paranoid, in my opinion....you are seeing the spin of propaganda that the government uses to label "dangerous" people, "dangerous" being defined as someone who dares to question or defy.

-- gita (gschmitz@directcon.net), October 06, 2001.

Smart Cards will be extremely difficult to counterfeit due to the biometric data that will be contained on the cards. This biometric data would probably be your picture, thumb print, and maybe even retinal data. Another thing to keep in mind is that, from what I have read, if you are a Christian and state that homosexuality iw wrong then you are guilty of a hate crime. Go figure.

-- Mike (uyk7@hotmail.com), October 06, 2001.

Mike, Do you really want an ID card that requires part of your body to use? Think about it. Instead of some criminal stealing your ATM card they now take your ATM card and you.

I am still trying to figure out what this national ID card is going to be used for? The current one (Social secuirty card) I never use. I use the number when I am forced to but not the physical card. Mine is locked away in a safe. Will the national card replace a drivers license? Will it replace your employee ID? WHAT!!!!? If its not somthing your normally going to use on a daily basis then its worthless to stop terrorist

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), October 06, 2001.

England has already stated that their national ID card will be voluntary but if you don't have one you will not be able to buy anything or receive government assistance. Smart cards contain a chip which can contain data about you. You would swipe this card in a machine and it will check to see if you are who you say you are by checking the data on the chip with data that is contained in a database somewhere.

-- Mike (uyk7@hotmail.com), October 06, 2001.

It would be difficult for them to classigy me as a terrorist as I am a pacifist...but wait, wasn't that guy in India that overturned the oppressive government a pacifist? Boy, I better keep a lower profile. Heck, we're probably on a gov't list just for being on this forum, but I know they're too understaffed to read that information...If I keep too much lower profile I'll evaporate. As to the national id card... I genuinely believe that there are enough Christians who would equate it with the Revelations numbering scheme that it will be a long time before we have to deal with it.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 06, 2001.

classigy? (classy guy?) how about classify? there. that's better.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 06, 2001.

***Each man, woman, and child is a "terrorist" to a government afraid of its people.****

Ten years ago we who peaceably stand in front of abortion centers to offer women a choice asked the same question of we who call ourselves prolife. In 1995, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act passed, making abortion sit-ins a felony, punishable by years in prison. This should have made civil libertarians upset, because as they do unto us, the courts can do unto them. In fact, a few did see the free speech ramifications and did become upset. But the noisy mainstream drowned them out. Those who published that abortion was murder were called "antichoice terrorists" by courts and forced to shut up or pay enormous penalties. It was commonplace for years to see any non-Politically Correct person or group called a terrorist in the newspapers. The wolf was at the door back then.

Now the media uses the term "terrorist" so loosely, that no one is sure of the meaning anymore. A prolife grandma who hands out leaflets is a terrorist. A child who brings fingernail clippers to school is a terrorist. A family who opposes the state ramming its religion down their throats and who oppose their children being taken away from them for bringing bibles to school or for having the wrong ideas, that family is branded a bunch of terrorists. Hey, I even hear the media calling some of our friends who hug trees terrorists, as long as they don't adapt their opinions instantly to the popular view. The wolf is confused now, he's got too many houses to blow down and he's trying to blow them down all at once, it seems!

In the time of Stalin, government got so distrustful that soon (it was clear to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) everyone was a potential terrorist. It is a crazy time in which we live. However, we who refuse to give up antiquated notions like free speech and freedom of thought will grow stronger the more of us are branded terrorists. The interesting effect of all this is that we who are unjustly labeled terrorists--all unique and wonderful people with much to learn from one another--can collectively catch our breaths, look each other in the face with relief, and say, "I'm a terrorist, you're a terrorist. We're all terrorists!" and embrace! And not be afraid of the big bad wolf anymore.

God Bless America!!!

-- Cat Grayson (honor@la.com), October 07, 2001.