Independence: YAY!

Happy Independence D- wait… that was last week wasn’t it? Oh my, do excuse me. As you can imagine, remembering holidays whereby “my people” lost (and rightfully so, I might add!) isn’t one of my strong suits. In truth though, I’m glad they did–I mean maybe I wouldn’t be here now enjoying the vast fruits of this great nation if they hadn’t succumbed to America’s mighty (and it is mighty) hand of justice(!) Now, I know some of you who know me might indeed detect a slight hint of sarcasm in these words, but be assured, I do actually mean them–to an extent. Not to get too sensitive, too soon, but I truly am grateful to this place for allowing me the experiences and memories I’ve come to know and love, which, of course, include the people I’ve met along the way. However, just because I am a “suspicious” foreign Limey (that’s derogatory slang for “Brit” by the way), an alien of sorts, who likes to think he attains a certain degree of logical thought, doesn’t mean I can’t be objective to American current affairs; and my, hasn’t there been some affairs recently!

Where to start. Actually,come to think of it, maybe I shouldn’t at all. My Dad did warn me. People might be watching. People might be recording. People might be… people might be completing other-covert-operations-related-to-this-blog-post (that is, if things are rather slow in the office today). But regardless, it still deserves an anxious *GULP* Well, too late now anyway–I already clicked the save button, so whatever they’re looking for, they already have it–may as well continue then, right?

But really, what the hell is going on in the world?! Is it just me?! Sometimes it feels like it. I mean, I’m not even American and some of the things that go on here astound me! Specifically though, and for those of you who have no idea what my last paragraph is alluding to, then I have to ask, in the most respectful way I can; where have you been?! Although to be fair to you, it’s not like it’s been doing the rounds much on national news stations–why would it? It’s not like the story completely questions the whole idea of independence in the first place. OK, you can count that last sentence as sarcasm this time.

To cut a long story short (and no doubt my time in America), the story in question is that of whistleblower… oh god, what do I do now? Can I mention his name? Oh shit, I’ve just given their gender away. Errrm, OK, so for the purposes of this post I’ll just mention him/maybe her by the initials E.S.–nothing suspicious here folks! Anyway, the story of E.S. broke a couple of weeks ago by The G… nevermind, you just need to know it was a UK newspaper. In short, E.S., who had worked for a U.S. (United States that is; this wasn’t another person!) government security and surveillance agency, revealed to the media (for the public’s sake) for the first time about the seemingly typical and intrusive practices the agency subscribes to–including, but not limited to (apparently!): the collection and archiving of billions of citizens’ phone records, in collaboration with the top four cell phone companies in the country, and the ‘search and save’ policy held upon most electronic data the general public communicates through (e-mails etc.) Nothing too heavy then? Oh no, not at all. Compared to the domestic drones this country supposedly uses to gather even more information and day-to-day imagery of people (even you?), this breaking story was probable, playground  piecemeal.

However, it isn’t. How can it be? This very story alone, and I’ve no doubt there are many more that we’re yet to know about, here and abroad (to give you an idea, a recent report in the UK recently found that to every 11 Britons there’s at least one CCTV camera!), contradict the exact notion of a free, independent and democratic state; the very traditions America, rightfully, prides itself on. There is no prouder state on Earth than America, and I wouldn’t be the only Brit to tell you that, for national pride back home, though it certainly exists, is on a far smaller-scale. But that just comes with the territory of being different kinds of people. For instance, Brits tend to have much more introverted personalities than Americans, not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course there isn’t–for me personally, I’m glad we’re that way–for it’s what makes our culture, as well as America’s more extroverted nature, particularly unique.

Nevertheless, it’s stories such as the one mentioned above that threaten the cornerstones of these patriotic values people hold so deeply here, and that shouldn’t be taken lightly–no matter how many PR opportunities are taken by a government to divert the public’s attention away from an issue, no matter how much for the “greater good” (i.e. safety of the borders) such intrusiveness apparently breeds, and it should be said, no matter how much drivel national news channels pump out for the very same effect, according to their own political or partisan agendas, which, in all honesty, I believe to be an even more iniquitous “crime.” I mean, does real journalism actually exist anymore? As a journalist-in-training, I tend to ask myself that question more than most. What kind of journalism do I want to be involved in? The kind that commands utter devotion to network agendas and minimizes scrutiny, or the kind that extracts the true truth from real, newsworthy news… that is, proper newsworthiness, wherever it can be found? By my tone, I’m sure you can guess what my answer would be.

So while I found myself also joining in with the festivities of last week (it’d be rude not to), I’m careful to recognize that in this day and age of widespread and/or worldwide, Big Brother like politics and technology–independence–for what it really meant when America’s Founding Fathers built themselves this nation, no longer, really, exists. Take this for what it’s worth, but I know I’d rather live in a place whereby questioning government policy for the purposes of transparency was encouraged, rather than restricted. That, to me, is the sign of a true democracy. I mean, if the people themselves aren’t willing to know the truth, who’s regulating the government? If you want “them” to harness more power, then I’m afraid democracy may as well just pack its bags right now. In fact, send it to Syria… they could probably find it more useful than a few AK47’s, no?

Anyhoo, we’re nearly there now, so let me leave you with this quote by Benjamin Franklin, I’m sure you’ve heard of him before;

Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety.

Here’s another;

I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded.

Oops, my apologies, that last one was said by Mr. E.S. whistleblower himself–sound familiar? Does to me. You know, “fighting” for freedoms can come in all shapes and sizes. As courageous as it is, just because you fight overseas and arm yourself with a gun doesn’t mean you can’t protect your country’s liberties in other ways, at home, that, at the very least, should serve to protect anyone who is a law-abiding citizen. Think about it. What E.S. and others like him have done is merely show the government for what it thinks it is; an omnipotent, untouchable, all-seeing, singing, and dancing fist of rule. They are not, and never should be. We’d be wise to remember as the proletariat, that it’s us that put them in that position in the first place, and as a consequence, it’s us that at any time, can take those positions away–but only if we see fit to do so. If we aren’t offered the answers we deserve, then surely, we should do just that.

Now, I’m well aware that this post may come across as plain ol’ paranoia seeping through my pores, but trust me, it isn’t. It’s simply an objective opinion. If I’m unable to have one, I may as well become a robot (give it time Jack, they’re still working on the technology) Now, who’s that at the door… wait, you’re from where? Oh, so I should grab all my things? Bollocks. Nevermind democracy packing its bags–looks like it’s my turn–next time, I’ll listen to you Dad…