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Well, perhaps some progress towards common ground! At least it is easier to understand people when sarcazm is avoided. I tend to take people at their word, presumably they mean just exactly what they say - or they wouldn't be saying it. We agree on one thing at least, that there may be too much national paranoia right now. I joined this forum as invited by the magazine to offer my take on just that issue - that this paranoia is being taken advantage of by self serving corporations to settle a private "Score" with railfans. I have repeatedly suggested that we as a group must enlighten those whose duty it is to provide for the common defense - perhaps reducing the their paranoia and redirecting their efforts in more effective ways. A patriotic thing to do? As for what rights are being trappled, I am not sure what you are referring to. Neither the President, nor anyone else in the Federal Government has outlawed railfanning. They did however, foolishly accept a phony profile of a terrorist. As to our rights of privacy, if that is what you refer to, congress did pass new laws intended to help discover the intentions of potential enemies, and they must of course walk a very fine line. And when we are no longer threatened by powerful madmen who have vowed our destruction, maybe that law should be repealed. But I think we should be careful to avoid our own paranoia in reverse. The Constitution protects against "Unreasonable search and seizure". But reasonable men can disagree as to what level of privacy is reasonable. Indeed, what is a reasonable search now may be totally unreasonable in a more peaceful time. As to my "Attitude", I too was incensed by what I read here. However, none of us complaining about politics in this forum meant to "slap" anyone, but only to pull the discussion away from partisan bickering and remind everyone that the principles and issues at hand are far more important than party politics. I think any of us has the right to suggest that. I for one, am PROFOUNDLY weary of policical name calling, sarcasm, viscious negative campaigning, and the shear partisan bigotry that suggests another faction has no valid points to make - and is therefore unworthy of a public forum. That may not have been the intention, but that sure is how it sounded. I really do believe that that the main Halmark of America (if it even can be defined) is a form of democracy where we universally and willingly subject ourselves to the "Rule Of Law" and peaceably share lawmaking power between various partisan factions. Now I see increasing evidence over the last ten years that some are not so willing to accept the will of the people. It concerns me deeply. So I defined un-americanism in that light - and then said that railfans do not generally fit that description. I thought that was the point of the Trains Mag article. I still do not believe we were invited to name call against the President or any member of this forum. If I were to take the time for political debate, I would be happy to debate you or anyone over principles and issues, sans the partisanship. I simply detest partisan bias. I am not alone. Indeed, our Founding Fathers tried hard with their complex set of checks and balances to break the back of what they called "Factionalism". We call it political parties. I call it YUK. I still hope this forum will remain primarily social, as its subject has more to do with the socialable sharing of avocational and vocational interests than it has to do with politics. We are so much less likely to offend by avoiding politics and religion in social settings such as this forum. Now Please! Have a Happy - we are not so far apart as it may have seemed. RmC.
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