It was a normal morning in the court yard at my old high school; I was hanging with my friends before class as usual. I then said something…
“Death from above.”
My friends asked me what I meant.
“No, today I feel there will be death from above.”
They just let it off as Magus being, well, Magus. First period went by fine, and moved into the second.
An announcement came over the PA.
“A plane has just crashed into the World Trade Center. You can turn to channel 23 to see the news.”
Our teacher walked over and clicked on the TV, and we all saw the smoke as it bellowed from the first tower. We watched “live” as the second plane hit, and then found out about the Pentagon.
With that, I remembered the words I uttered only two hours before.
“Death from above.”
Classes continued on, and I moved to third period (my gifted class, holding just ten people, of which one was my girlfriend at the time, and two others were good friends of mine). While in class, we continued watching the news, wondering if we were going to get killed. Yes, that is what was going through our minds. No, we were not in Washington, nor New York, but across the street from a major theme park. No, not that one, the other one.
Well, things got better; we had to evacuate out to the fields that were around the school. Oh, it was not because of the terrorism. Rather it was a bomb they had found, which later turned out to be a coke can wrapped in tinfoil.
So, in the blazing sun, we were without information about what was going on. The deans, being the nice people that they were, were enforcing the rule of “no cell phones” by grabbing each one they saw out, which the students were using to contact their parents. I happened to have a cd player with
a radio, so I was yelling to everyone around me what was going on. Understand that, at the time, we had no idea what was happening; anywhere could be a target. That is what I was yelling to them. Left, right, up, down, everywhere was a target.
Finally, the day ended, and with that ending of the day soon came the end to our freedoms, with the passing of the Patriot Act.
Both sides are going to use this day to say how they are more patriotic then their opponent. How can they protect us from more terror while creating it?
In the end, the most patriotic people are the ones who have lost their lives for this great nation, and the world. So, how about we have a moment to remember them, and not tarnish their memories.
-Magus-

Tags: Current Events, Magus Dethen, Politics by Magus Dethen
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We wave flags and pin them on our lapel. We say that by being patriotic we are free, but it is the farthest from freedom.
We wear patriotism as a badge of freedom but it is not so. We are bound by it. A person who questions the shredding of the constitution by the “Patriot” Act, is said to be against freedom.
The freedom to speak has been silenced, because our phones are being tapped for “our protection.”
The freedom to bear arms has been shot, because you have become a criminal by owning a gun.
The freedom to check out books from Benjamin Franklin’s public library has been burned, because the librarian has to give up the list of books you have checked out.
The freedom to find out the truth for yourself on the web has been 403′ed, because one can no longer surf with anonymity.
The freedom to worship as you will has been exorcised, because wearing a symbol of your faith can get you killed.
The freedom to tell your government what you think of them has been quashed, because your name will end up on a list of “special interest.”
The freedom to think has been abolished, because to think is to question the government.
The freedom to question the government has been obliterated, because you will be called unpatriotic.
But to question, to think, to speak, to read, to learn, is the true freedom that America once offered, and being free is the only reason someone should be patriotic. Patriotism is not just waving flags, singing the national anthem, or blowing fireworks up. True patriotism is exercising your Constitutional rights and defending them in the face of tyranny.
A lot of people will say this today: “freedom isn’t free;” but right now it would be nice if we had some of these freedoms, for which so many have paid the highest price, back.
-Magus-

Tags: Current Events, General, Government, Magus Dethen, Politics by Magus Dethen
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From ACLU [aclu@aclu.org]:  “We all know how much damage the Bush administration has done to the Constitution and the rule of law. But, just how long we allow their lawlessness and affronts to the Constitution to live on is up to us. Will we accept the damage that has been done and live with the consequences? Or will we act with energy and conviction to restore our constitutional rights?Acting with energy and conviction is what the ACLU 2008 Membership Conference  is all about.That’s why I’d like to invite you to this year’s conference to get inspired, energized and organized to fight for our Constitution.It is up to us to restore our civil liberties and the ACLU 2008 Membership Conference  is a chance for all of us who care about liberty, equality and justice in America today to come together as concerned activists. At the conference you’ll meet scholars, writers, judges, and elected officials; learn about the most pressing civil liberties issues of the day and join other members like yourself to lobby Congress and defend our most fundamental freedoms.If you are ready to stand up for the kind of America you want to live in, the ACLU 2008 Membership Conference is the place for you.“I came here because I needed to be among a group of people who care about the things about which I care and to get re-energized to protect our democracy from the abuse of our own government.” –Carol Mehlman, 2006 ACLU Membership Conference participant from Tampa, Florida.As in past conferences, you can expect to hear from a wide variety of respected experts on civil liberties, as well as from ACLU clients who will tell their stories. We have just confirmed some inspiring new speakers, including former South African Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, “literary grandmaster” Ariel Dorfman, Retired U.S. Navy Admiral John Hutson, and U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David H. Souter.The ACLU Membership Conference is for everyone who is ready to bring an end to our government’s abuse of power and restore our Constitutional values and heritage. Mark your calendar for June 8 - 10, 2008 to be in Washington, D.C. to make your voice heard — and make a difference.I hope to see you there! Learn more and register now.”

Tags: Uncategorized by Vivienne D'Avalon
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Tags: Current Events, Politics, Religion, Vivienne D'Avalon by Vivienne D'Avalon
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