Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/07/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Just FYI - I'M the poster who referred to King George Bush; I'M the poster who observed that there really ARE nasty people out there; and I'M the same poster who called in the post 9/11 videographers. ;-) -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Leonard J Kapner Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 7:19 PM To: 'Leica Users Group' Subject: RE: [Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland Security Sorta quiet out there on this subject after this posting. Hmmm... must be supper time in the East. :-) Len -- -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+ljkapner=cox.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+ljkapner=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Bill Phelps Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 3:48 PM To: lug@leica-users.org Subject: [Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland Security >King George Bush? Lets stop and think about this for a moment. As one poster has observed, there really ARE some nasty people out there who are intent upon causing grevous damage to the United States. Whether we want to admit it or not, radical Muslims hate our guts and would destroy the entire nation if it was within their power to do so. The Europeans needn't feel too smug about it either; they're clearly on the list of enemies hated by radical Muslims also. Going ONLY on the account of the student in Seattle, he has a legitimate gripe about the manner in which he was treated. However, not having been there or hearing the actual event unfold, I wouldn't be too quick to condemn the Federal authorities involved. Could they have over-reacted? Sure. Could the student have been confrontational and a horse's rear end? That, too, is a possibility. The entire situation could probably have been handled better by all concerned. It's possible that we'll never know the full story because the authorities are unlikely to say much publicly. IMO, President Bush is in a no-win situation. It's a "Damned if you do & damned if you don't", rock & hard-place senario. The size and scope of this nation makes security difficult. 9/11 was a wake-up call that we were (and are) in a war for our very existence. The immediate reaction in any such situation may well tend to be excessive and mistakes will be made. It's regrettable when even a single incident takes place but it's also inevidable. Medal of Honor winner and retired Marine General Joe Foss - well into his 80's - was harrassed by airport security when he tried to board a plane with his medal. The morons didn't recognize the significance of the medal or know who Foss was. When security folks over-react or use poor judgment, lots of people blame President Bush..... as if he can personally control every government employee. But, if the student hadn't been checked out and he just happened to be a terrorist and his pictures made blowing up the locks possible, the same people would be screaming for Bush's head because the student wasn't caught. He can't win no matter what happens. Some of it is politically motivated by those who want to see Kerry win or a Democrat back in the White House. Some of it is because people don't stop and think things through. They read what one newspaper or TV reporter has to say and never question the information. After all, reporters and TV news programs aren't political...... are they? For the poster who reported the fellows taking videos shortly after 9/11, I'm willing to bet that federal, state and local authorities had thousands of "leads" to check out at that time and there's no way of knowing what the police officer in the car ahead of you may have been doing at that moment. However, you do have my thanks for being alert enough and smart enough to report what you saw. Who knows? Your lead may have done more good than you realize. BTW, all power generating plants are considered Nation Defense assets. Walker Smith _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information