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[GWL]: Irradiation and freedom

Tom Ogren wrote:
     The mood of the American public now is (rightly) such that we garden
writers would indeed be wise to go along on this and not to oppose it. In
the near future there will be a great many inconveniences due to the
terrorists' acts. This will probably be one of the least of them.


Let us begin by acknowledging that this note could be seen as off-topic 
when viewed in the context of this list. In my own mind however, it speaks 
to the most basic of roles in which we as writers find ourselves.  It is 
written as a response to Tom's note above. I am implying no other act to 
Tom or decision on his part other than "going along" with irradiation.  I 
take the responsibility for leading us down a direction in which Tom has 
pointed but not taken any steps. In other words, I'm not trying to flame 
Tom or take exception to his note. Having written that disclaimer. :-)

Each individual makes a choice about leading or following in a crisis 
situation.  That the U.S. is in such a crisis is clear and no rational 
person would condone the perversion of Islam that calls for killing 
innocents; I do not in any way condone the killing or acts of terrorism.

Tom suggests that garden writers "go along" and not oppose the introduction 
of an act of irradiation of private messages that may or may not include 
seeds.  He also suggests that this might be the least of inconveniences US 
citizens get to put up with in the future and he is indeed correct in this 
assumption. One such provision will force isp's to keep a record of all 
email for examination without the need for search warrants.  Hacking or the 
encryption of material  even that done by teenagers in pursuit of music 
dowloads (remember that downloading music is a form of  "hacking") would be 
illegal and punishable as "terrorism" under this legislation.  It would be 
legal for a government employee (properly supervised of course);-) to 
examine the isp records for evidence of law-breaking without court 
approval. In other words, your email would not have any measure of privacy 
from a concerned civil servant.  There are other provisions that are 
equally intrusive and worrisome for civil liberties and I don't doubt the 
civil rights legal profession will see an upturn in business. ;-)    The 
police powers bill in the U.S. 
(http://www.usatoday.com/news/attack/2001/10/19/antiterrorism-bill.htm#more)
Canada 
(http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011015/wl/attacks_canada_8.html)  and
UK 
(http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011015/wl/attacks_britain_terrorism_2.html), 
allow extensive monitoring of Internet traffic without a court order.

Now, to the point.  When does it become an issue that writers of all sorts 
have to take a stand as the bellweathers of society and lead that society 
rather than "go along and not oppose it."  Do we do so now as the freedom 
limiting legislation is being enshrined in law or do we do it when some 
over-zealous civil servant has the kid next door arrested for playing some 
reality based computer game or writing an English exercise in school that 
involves violence? These two things have already occurred in our area in 
the past year and it is not an exercise for either the authorities or kids 
involved.  The authorities have "lost" both cases but had the police acts 
be in force, the outcome might have been far different.

I suspect we all willingly give up freedom levels in the heat of the moment 
and under the duress of war. These are temporary measures that are repealed 
when the problem ceases.  Here in Canada in the early 1970's, the 
government invoked the War Measures Act that effectively put the country 
under military control to deal with the FLQ crisis.  When the problem was 
deemed to have been solved, that control was relinquished. Now, most of us 
did not see soldiers or have our liberties curtailed in any way but if the 
need was there, it could have happened.

In the current situation, these restrictions on freedom will be permanently 
enshrined in legislation. They are not temporary.

If you as a writer and leader in your community are fine with a permanent 
loss of freedom, then by all means "go along".  If you have concerns then 
the real exercise is to determine at what point you'll stop "going 
along".  Now, when the changes are being made? Or, later after the fact is 
established and innocent people are being persecuted?

Writers  hopefully even garden writers  have always been at the leading 
edge of fights about free speech and other legal curtailments of 
liberty.  I'll look forward to seeing what role garden writers choose to 
play (and not simply vocalize here) in this society discussion.  Do we "go 
along" because the people are upset or do we act as leaders in the 
discourse and bring an intelligent voice to the debate.

My .02 for the day.

Doug
Douglas Green,
Freelance writing: You've got a story to tell - I can write it.
http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/clips/clipmaster.htm

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