Tiger Repelling Rocks

I was venturing through the countless news stories of the day when I came across one pertaining to the wonderful topic of U.S policy on terrorism. This immediately sparked my interest because I am curious as to their official standpoint lately. As soon as I began to read I was in awe. To me, listening to what the U.S government is saying about this is like sitting there listening to someone pitch you a pyramid scheme or sell you a time share. On the surface you think to yourself, "Wow they are really offering good things." Any further reading into it and you will discover this is not the case. When was the last true terrorist attack on America? September 11th 2001. When was the last major legitimate scare? I can't recall it. In fact it seems that all of the threats that have occurred have been either fabricated or imagined. Throughout the Globe and Mail article it discusses the potential threats of future terrorism. Take a look at what the head of CIA said about the "continued" threat of terrorism.

'Although Mr. Goss said that the terrorist group's leadership has been seriously disrupted and that Osama bin Laden is still being relentlessly hunted, he acknowledged that al-Qaeda remains "committed to and capable of dealing the United States a devastating blow." '

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050217/CIA17/TPInternational/?query=North+Korea

My question is, if the terrorists are so committed and capable, then why have they not struck? Should we assume, as the media soaked public, that the U.S government and all it’s purging and policing of our rights and freedoms is responsible for this? I would like to draw the courts attention to a Simpson’s episode of relevance. Lisa claims to Homer that she possesses a rock which in fact wards of tigers. "You don't see any tigers around here do you?" she asks him. Homer, who to me embodies the mindset of the masses, offers to buy the rock from Lisa for large amounts of money. It is easy to draw parallels between this mentality and that of most of the public. Why not vote George Bush in again? He after all prevented any further terrorist attacks. And why not sit idly by as legislation such as the Patriot Act are passed, depredating the fundamental freedoms and rights that humankind has struggled to obtain through ages of struggle?

I will tell you why we should not sit idly by as the world around us changes shape before our eyes. Our forefathers and mothers wrote countless books, made countless speeches and fought countless battles precisely so we could have these things. It is not by any means crazy to believe that a world based on fear, suspicion, hate, greed, and ignorance is erroneous. These types of vices are being fostered with increasing care by contemporary society. The constitution of America was and can still remain a beacon of hope and model for progress throughout the world. To allow this or any other documents like it to be perverted is to allow the erotion of the very base on which all freethinking, progressive voices have to stand. Fear and apathy are two things, which can be counted on by anyone who wishes to manipulate the public. Knowledge, companionship and open-mindedness are the things, which can prevent this manipulation and also act as the platforms from which we can progress. Open your eyes. Look right to left and see that things may not be what they seem. More importantly however, see that they don’t have to be…