Apparently we are all terrorists…

March 5, 2008

At the risk of skirting dangerously close to a political diatribe, this like THIS are really getting out of hand. (link goes to article, click the pic for larger image)police-warning.jpg

There are already plenty of reports of the general camera-unfriendliness that is growing in our ever-expanding surveillance society, but this is essentially painting anyone with a camera as a terrorist (god help you if you have a big slr & tripod). Have we as a people really sunk that low? (not to mention the obvious disconnect in that the folks usually being harassed are SLR users, whereas wouldn’t you expect a “terrorist” to want to use something small and inconspicuous? – quick round up all the G9 users!)

This is really an ugly reflection of our changing society. Honestly I was shocked (although maybe I shouldn’t be) by that poster – without hyperbole, it is something that could have come straight out of Soviet Russisa (”Report any suspicious activity, comrade! It’s your patriotic duty!).

I am a fairly young guy, but I can’t seem to ever remember this level of general paranoia and fear mongering being foisted upon the public ’till recently. It really makes you wonder why.

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There are 4 comments in this article:

  1. March 5, 2008sucellus says:

    but, I mean, you are a terrorist, right? :-)

  2. March 6, 2008Luis Cruz says:

    That poster is just one of the latest bits of news that show how photographers are being treated with hostility. I saw the same article, and I’m really sick of the whole topic myself

    I ended up writing a little post on Learn how to shoot like a terrorist because of that poster. Do check it out if you have the time, and btw, I apologize in advance for the sarcasm.

  3. March 10, 2008Tom says:

    Do a little research on Mc Carthyism in the 1950’s. Paranoia has been around forever and will be here long after we are gone.

  4. March 28, 2008Ed Z says:

    True, but that doesn’t mean we should stand idly by while it happens.
    Plus I think it is arguable that the issues of lost rights & legislation going on now is more far-reaching and insidious than the “red scare” and McCarthism.

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