What was your first thought when Bush announced The Department of Homeland Security?

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." ―Princess Leia

 

My reaction was similar to yours. The very name had echoes of the Nazi "Fatherland." Before Bush and his people dredged up "Homeland," had anyone here ever heard that term used to describe the United States of America? I hadn't. It offended me then, it offends me now. Much of the bill passed establishing what it now an enormous bureaucracy (golly... thanks so much for shrinking "Big Government," Mr. Bush) should be recinded, dialed down, and the intrusion on the lives of the American people reduced to a more reasonable level, while still ensuring our safety from acts of terrorism. In my opinion.

 

I was horrified. I still am.

 

Eagles.

 

I'm going to be late for class....

I had no opinion. I think I was 15.

 

Yeah, I recall two immediate thoughts:
1. Sounds way too much like fatherland, so someone clearly let Ashcroft attend a big boy meeting when he should have been at his electroshock appointment.
and
2. Shouldn't the DOD be all about "homeland" security (instead of, say, making up reasons to go f up other countries?)

Oh well.

 

1984- corporatism

 

My first thoughts were that we are going to go down the road we are in fact going down currently...the reduction of civil liberties and snooping on all US citizens in the name of the "War on Terror". Just wait, it's gonna get worse

 

My first thought.....

 

I wondered how the country had existed without someone responsible for security of the "homeland" before that day.

 

gestapo

 

We managed. ;-)-

 

I was about 7 so I had no clue about it. In fact, it wasn't until a few years ago I learned that the DOHS and other post 9/11 security was new.

 

I thought it was an over reaction.

 

1984.

 

That Franklin quote, something like, those willing to sacrifice liberty or freedom for security deserve neither.

 

We've always been at war with terror.

 

I was seven years old so...

 

In no particular order:

1) Orwellian
2) Stupid, ineffective, and wasteful
3) Bound to make someone rich