I'll second that! Land of the free, and hOMe of the brave.
Mark Jennings
Lex Jenkins wrote:
> [NOTE: The following will eventually touch upon photography, but will
> resolve absolutely nothing. - Lex]
>
> >From: Andrew Fildes <afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >
> >You live in fear of violence and choose to
> >protect yourself with a form of violence...
>
> That's a common misapprehension, even among Americans. I have relatively
> little fear of violence. As has already been mentioned, driving is far more
> risky. Many other hazards far surpass violence statistically.
>
> But the purpose of the 2nd Amendment is, essentially, to protect the entire
> Constitution and most importantly the 1st Amendment, freedom of speech and
> to peaceably assemble to petition the government for redress of grievances.
> That is by far the preferable method for solving problems and assuring the
> continuance of the Great Experiment - the uniquely American form of self
> governance, the constitutional representative republic.
>
> If I fear violence at all it is of the type perpetrated by agents of those
> in positions of power within the government who abuse their power by
> assaulting a nation's own citizens. While it is statistically insignificant
> in the United States, I can think of nothing more evil on Earth. Since the
> birth of this Republic such rogue agents have occasionally attacked citizens
> engaged in legitimate protest. I believe that only the first two amendments
> have kept this in check and prevented a horrifying trend toward tyranny.
>
> While others will certainly disagree I would prefer a protracted civil war
> between relatively equally armed factions than the interminable, grinding,
> mind-numbing, spirit-crushing genocide committed by a vastly superior power
> against any who dare disagree.
>
> Above all I would prefer peace and tolerance to pursue that elusive
> happiness. Liberty, in other words.
> >
> >It's just that we here in Aus. have a very similar society to yours...
> >
>
> Unlikely. There is no society on Earth like the USA. Just as there is no
> place quite like Australia.
>
> >
> >... and we mostly manage without them.
> >
>
> The Australian government has given its citizens no choice. Where there is
> no agreement as to recognition of fundamental human rights, all actions are
> priveleges which can be rescinded. The concepts of self-protection,
> property ownership, free expression ... all subject to whim - and, yes, that
> includes one of our most beloved, photography.
>
> Lex
> ===
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