News > Politics > We Take A Small Step Closer To Fahrenheit 451

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27 2007 9:00 AM

We Take A Small Step Closer To Fahrenheit 451

Tags: Homeland Security, Firemen, Fahrenheit 451

The book Fahrenheit 451 was originally a novella called The Fireman. It was written by Ray Bradbury and was meant as a critique of American society. In the book, critical thinking is suppressed and firemen are actually book burners. Bradbury explained what the book was about.

Fahrenheit 451 is a story about how television destroys interest in reading literature, which ultimately leads to ignorance of total facts.

Sounds pretty on target as far as where we are today, except for the role of firemen in our society. They are regarded as heroes, who sacrifice their lives to save what we hold dear. Firemen are the ultimate example of good in our society. But the Bush administration loves to ruin everything and they now have their sights set on firemen.

Firefighters in major cities are being trained to take on a new role as lookouts for terrorism, raising concerns of eroding their standing as American icons and infringing on people's privacy.

Unlike police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel don't need warrants to access hundreds of thousands of homes and buildings each year, putting them in a position to spot behavior that could indicate terrorist activity or planning.

Uh, what? What the fuck is happening? The government is already monitoring our phone calls, our emails, where we fly, our purchases and can turn our cell phones into a listening device whenever they want and now they want to turn our firemen in spies and narcs. Fuck off.

The Homeland Security Department is now testing their new fireman as narcs program in New York City. Firemen are being taught how to identify material or behavior of terrorists. If things go well, it will be expanded across the United States of Creepy.

"They're really doing technical inspections, and if perchance they find something like, you know, a bunch of RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) rounds in somebody's basement, I think it's a no-brainer," said Jack Tomarchio, a senior official in Homeland Security's intelligence division.

Yeah, no shit, asshole. Now, why do I think that firemen dont actually need to be trained to turn someone in if they find RPGs in a basement? Nice try with the spin, but Im not a fucking moron. This program is about snooping and getting around warrants; using men who should be doing no such thing.

Even before the federal program began, New York firefighters and inspectors had been training to recognize materials and behavior the government identifies as "signs of planning and support for terrorism."

When going to private residences, for example, they are told to be alert for a person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States; unusual chemicals or other materials that seem out of place; ammunition, firearms or weapons boxes; surveillance equipment; still and video cameras; night-vision goggles; maps, photos, blueprints; police manuals, training manuals, flight manuals; and little or no furniture other than a bed or mattress.

Huh, so they already do all that. What a surprise. Now, what exactly are firemen not doing that Homeland Security wants them to do? Heres a scenario: There is a call to 911 of a fire in a home. On there way there, firemen get a call over the radio telling them it is a possible terrorist home and to search the property. The firemen get there and tear the place up looking for information. Turns out the poor guy is not a terrorist, but his house has been ransacked. And hey, who made the 911 call in the first place? Because the guy who lives there didn't.

911 calls have been abused for years by police trying to get into a home, bringing firemen into the equation is bad fucking news. Although, some firemen seem to be okay with the idea.

D.C. firefighters and EMS providers are in 170,000 homes and businesses each year on routine calls, Schultz said.

"So we see things and observe things that may be useful to law enforcement," he said. "We can walk into your house. We don't need a search warrant." If an ambulance team shows up at a house and sees detailed maps of the District's public transit system on the wall, that's something the EMS provider would pass along, he said.

"It's the evolution of the fire service," said Bob Khan, the fire chief in Phoenix, which has created an information-sharing arrangement between the fire service and law enforcement through terrorism liaison officers.

Oh, good. Then dont be too upset if a dislike of firemen follows.

It's of particular concern for communities already under law enforcement scrutiny. "Do we want them to fear the fire department as well as the police?" German asked.

Yes, you do. And hopefully after this program is in place, we can get the cable guys going next.

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Comments

Jace

San Francisco, CA

February 2004

NOV 27, 2007 12:03 PM

There are so many things that I want to say about this that I don't want to say any of them. I know it's fashionable around here and a bit of a cliche', but outrage fatigue really does sum it up nicely. I'm just so sick of being ashamed of, appalled, and disgusted by this administration. I want it to be over so badly, but the lack of confidence I have in our governmental system because of the last 8 years makes me think that whoever comes next won't be much better.

_DictionaryGirl_

NEWSWIRE

San Diego, CA

NOV 27, 2007 12:03 PM

d20 said:

...or expressing hate or discontent with the United States

seriously? expressing discontent = terrorist? i don't even know how to respond to this shit anymore.

Like this, I think:

Bat_Kat

Denver, CO

October 2004

NOV 27, 2007 12:05 PM

...or expressing hate or discontent with the United States

Wow, so how many television programs do that right now? Does that make them terrorists? And hey, does the fact that we strongly disagree with this make us terrorists as well?

One thing is for certain. The government is trying to use make us afraid and Im sad to say they have won with me. Im afraid of them.

Ms_Magdalena

Minneapolis, MN

February 2007

NOV 27, 2007 12:07 PM

_DictionaryGirl_ said:

d20 said:

...or expressing hate or discontent with the United States

seriously? expressing discontent = terrorist? i don't even know how to respond to this shit anymore.

Like this, I think:

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

The best part about that image is that it's from "Monster Trucks UK"

Bat_Kat

Denver, CO

October 2004

NOV 27, 2007 12:09 PM

Jace said:
There are so many things that I want to say about this that I don't want to say any of them. I know it's fashionable around here and a bit of a cliche', but outrage fatigue really does sum it up nicely. I'm just so sick of being ashamed of, appalled, and disgusted by this administration. I want it to be over so badly, but the lack of confidence I have in our governmental system because of the last 8 years makes me think that whoever comes next won't be much better.

The next administration wont make anything better because they are going to be too busy cleaning up the shit left behind by this one.

It's like going to open up the store where you work only to find out that the closing crew decided to smear the entire place with piss, shit, and all other sorts of bodily fluids.

SirPsychoSexy

Ridgewood, NJ

January 2004

NOV 27, 2007 12:19 PM

Plz keep yr Redcoats out of my home, King George.
Kthanx.

eScottie

Minneapolis, MN

August 2003

NOV 27, 2007 12:34 PM

Firefighters are the new, hot untapped resource for governments. Here in Minneapolis, our Inspections department has tapped the fire department to drive their stinky diesel-guzzling fire trucks up and down the alleys looking for, say, garages with peeling paint. Minneapolis homeowner, your citation is in the mail....

But I diverge....

Back in the good ol' days, like the first year or two after 9/11, I thought that worry about our privacy was overstated-this Dubya guy is a dolt, his way of thinking won't be around long after what I presumed would be a single term in office. Someone with better sensibility would correct things....

Six years later, I worry more and more that as privacy rights continue to be invaded, we won't be able to restore those rights any time soon--perhaps for decades even under new non-Bush administrations.

Cabinet-level departments like Homeland Security (which always make me think of the Nazi's "Fatherland") get renamed and absorbed by other departments, but they seldom disappear. These institutions have incredible momentum even after their original intended purpose is fulfilled-momentum that can carry on for decades, as with the Rural Utilities Service, originally formed as the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935 and still carrying a $3 billion budget.

Be afraid, very afraid.

Whatley

Pleasant Plain, OH

August 2005

NOV 27, 2007 12:43 PM

I don't want to spoil the ending of Scream 3 for everyone who hasn't seen it, but when it ended and Sidney was still alive I stood up and screamed, "HORSESHIT!!" as loud as I could, in the theatre. That was the only time I have ever screamed an obscenity aloud, especially in a public place. This is how I felt when I read the above article. I feel once again, that unpleasant urge to scream out...HORSESHIT!

Wren

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

NOV 27, 2007 12:52 PM

deathmonkey said:
The spin that this administration puts on everything is amazing. It's almost more than the tilt-a-whirl, though it makes me want to puke earlier and more often.

Stop the country, I want to get off!