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  • SUNDAY MARCH 19 2006 10:47 PM

Screw the Democrats and Republicans—Join the Board Game Party

Submitted by Rahodeb

Edited by Christopher

John Ashcroft spoke at a conference in Florida yesterday, where he declared that the United States is still vulnerable to terrorism, and that Americans must continue to embrace "prevention over prosecution." After the lecture the former U.S. Attorney General took questions, one of which sought his comments on a little movement called PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version. Structured, organized and designed to look like Monopoly, PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version is a parody which doles out civil liberties according to qualities such as ethnicity and political affiliation. The last player to lose all of their civil liberties (and this seems to happen pretty quickly) "wins."

PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version was created in 2004 by Arab-American artist Mike Kabbash and—much like the actual Patriot Act, which was renewed this month—the game was recently updated for 2006 to include NSA wiretaps and renewal of provisions. Instead of starting at "Go," players begin at "Bring It On!" Instead of going to jail, players wind up at Guantanamo Bay.

According to Kabbash's website:

On September 11, 2001, the United States of America was attacked on our own soil by radical fundamentalist terrorists. In response to this great tragedy, our government and heads of state drafted and passed a poorly thought out piece of reactionary legislation in only eight days. Keeping with the flag-waving “my country, right or wrong” mood of the time, this legislation was entitled The Patriot Act, which ironically gives the government the ability to restrict and even remove the civil liberties of American citizens. Thus, while our brave soldiers were out defending freedom around the world, our own freedoms were at risk right here at home.

PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version is a game inspired by this historic abuse of governmental powers and its effect on society. While set up like a board game, PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version is a statement on the erosion of civil liberties in America since 9-11 under the Bush administration and the watchful eye of John Ashcroft. The game actually utilizes sourced information about the Act and many of the “hypothetical situations” in the game are based on real life events.

So get ready to laugh, cry and trample upon the Constitution!



While the game is not for sale, Kabbash has made it available for free on his website, where you can download the game board, rules, security profiles, civil liberties, homeland security deck, free speech deck and instructions for assembly and play.

While you're there, check out the rest of Kabbash's projects, like his hilarious Missing Cartons. Also worth meditating on are the various quotes Kabbash posts at the top of each page, which help to underline his belief and goal.

From Arundhati Roy, one of my all time favorite authors:

"The trouble is that once you see it, you can't unsee it. And once you've seen it, keeping quiet, saying nothing, becomes as political an act as speaking out. There's no innocence. Either way, you're accountable."



And from East German playwright, Bertolt Brecht:

"Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it."



Ashcroft had no comment regarding the game.

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Comments
bairdduvessa

bairdduvessa

Centerville, MA
April 2005

MAR 19, 2006 02:34 PM

ha i'd buy it if i were still in college!

JohnnyForeigner

JohnnyForeigner

United Kingdom
July 2003

MAR 19, 2006 02:35 PM

Pah, I'd have based it around Hungry Hungry Hippos ARRR!!!

skeptik

skeptik

New Orleans, LA
February 2004

MAR 19, 2006 02:42 PM

Helen_Jupiter said:

After the lecture the former U.S. Attorney General took questions, one of which sought his comments on a little movement called PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version.



I'm dying to hear how he responded!

James_

James_

United Kingdom
March 2003

MAR 19, 2006 03:29 PM

skeptik said:

Helen_Jupiter said:

After the lecture the former U.S. Attorney General took questions, one of which sought his comments on a little movement called PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version.



I'm dying to hear how he responded!



Helen_Jupiter said:
Ashcroft had no comment regarding the game.


smile

seanvegas

seanvegas

Lincoln, NE
December 2004

MAR 19, 2006 03:58 PM

Oh, old Ashy. My love for hating that man will never die!

garion333

garion333

Colorado Springs, CO
January 2004

MAR 19, 2006 06:45 PM

bairdduvessa said:
ha i'd buy it if i were still in college!



It's free. You download it from the site. The print it out.

[Edited on Mar 19, 2006 6:46PM]

skeptik

skeptik

New Orleans, LA
February 2004

MAR 19, 2006 08:24 PM

James_ said:

skeptik said:

Helen_Jupiter said:

After the lecture the former U.S. Attorney General took questions, one of which sought his comments on a little movement called PATRIOT ACT: The Home Version.



I'm dying to hear how he responded!



Helen_Jupiter said:
Ashcroft had no comment regarding the game.


smile


Oops!

sparaz

sparaz

Lompoc, CA
November 2002

MAR 19, 2006 10:56 PM

HA good stuff, I love political retaliation.

nefariouspt

nefariouspt

I'm lost
August 2005

MAR 19, 2006 10:57 PM

is any naked twister involved?

bairdduvessa

bairdduvessa

Centerville, MA
April 2005

MAR 20, 2006 12:08 AM

garion332 said:

bairdduvessa said:
ha i'd buy it if i were still in college!



It's free. You download it from the site. The print it out.

[Edited on Mar 19, 2006 6:46PM]



i know, im just sating that the game would have been something i would have paid for had i still had a social life

wingsnevershatrd

wingsnevershatrd

USA
March 2005

MAR 20, 2006 03:06 PM

can someone please give me a first hand example on how exactly their personal civil liberties have been violated? as a result of the patriot act and or the nsa intelligence program. just courious?

injuredcyclist

injuredcyclist

Portland, OR
March 2006

MAR 21, 2006 05:38 PM

i got blasted in a debate today cause i had to defend the patriot act. i knew it was coming, but theres nothing like feeling like a complete moron in front of your peers.

FrankMask

FrankMask

Saint Paul, MN
June 2003

MAR 22, 2006 11:12 AM

I advocate the "Who's for a party? party". Their platform is firmly constructed from a half a dozen kegs and a beer pong board.

More seriously, I don't like any of the extent political parties available for popular consumption. I want a third option.

IDGAS

IDGAS

Portland, ME
March 2004

MAR 22, 2006 05:18 PM

wingsnevershatrd said:
can someone please give me a first hand example on how exactly their personal civil liberties have been violated? as a result of the patriot act and or the nsa intelligence program. just courious?




I am required to present my backpack for a search by an NYPD office when “randomly” picked in order to ride the subway to work. Of course I can decline to permit the search but than I may not enter the subway. The MTA also is subsidized by my tax dollars; NYC, NYS, and on my telephone bill (I still don’t get the last).

If I were a terrorist working with a group of several suicide bombers (not girls) I would get all of us onto the subway by bypass the randomly picked station where the random searchers are being carried out. This policy of searches is about PR not security anyone dedicated to beating the system can do so.

flowerofromance

flowerofromance

Chicago, IL
May 2005

MAR 22, 2006 05:30 PM

wingsnevershatrd said:
can someone please give me a first hand example on how exactly their personal civil liberties have been violated? as a result of the patriot act and or the nsa intelligence program. just courious?


My phone's been tapped.

I swear to God.

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