Reconsidering National Security

Reconsidering National Security

First, let me say that I wrote this after reading many other blog posts.  Without trying to be completely antagonistic, I will start by saying that not everything that the government does when it comes to surveillance in within the realms of the law, but when it comes to media, people are ignorant for thinking their information is “private”.  Too many times, I’ve heard things like “my Facebook profile is supposed to be on private, how could they see my pictures” or something along those lines.  Using the internet requires people to have a reasonable amount common knowledge that can be read on websites terms and conditions...that annoying page that requires you to hit accept before you sign up for pretty much anything.  But I’d guess that 75% of people don’t read these terms.    Instead of blaming the government for invading your “privacy”, people should take the time to understand that Facebook is as public as posting a sign on your front lawn.  Thus, if it can help the government in any way to prevent future attacks on America, why would you blame them for doing so? 

            In Glenn Greenwald’s “No Place to Hide” , he quotes CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, when he says “ people have really gotten comfortable sharing more information and different kinds…privacy in the digital age is no longer a social norm,” (170).   Considering he is the creator of Facebook, it seems reasonable to take his word when he says that nothing you post on Facebook is private.  I am using Facebook as an example here but this goes for many other Internet resources.  As Mark Zuckerberg says, “privacy in the digital world is not and should not be regarded as normal,” (171).  Despite what should be common knowledge to the millions of internet users, people still accuse the government of doing things they should not be doing. 

            Hassan Elahi provides an extreme example of his response to the FBI after being put on a terrorist watch list.  He chose to give them all the information about himself he possibly could.  Even providing hourly photos, receipts etc. of his whereabouts.  Clearly, this intended exaggeration is a hostile response to the government simply doing their job. Here is my problem with this.  I can remember reciting the pledge of allegiance in my 3^rd grade classroom moments before finding out that two planes had crashed into the world trade center.   I cannot say that I was fully aware of the implications of what had happened, but I knew my dad worked in the city.  I wondered if he would come home that night.  I cried and begged to be taken out of the classroom.  I got angry and yelled at my teacher for insisting that I "calm down".  Even  my young 8 year old brain could comprehend that whatever happened was bad. After the attacks, our country rallied.  Many people made slogans like “never again” and “never forget”.  So why is it that now, people response to the government doing there job to protect you is treated with such hostility?  I can assure you that simply being on an FBI watch list does not, in any way, mean that you are being arrested.  And what bothers me more is that people accuse the government of always doing something wrong when they are the ones putting information on Facebook, which the CEO has explicitly stated is completely public.  If you're so intent on protecting you rights, you should probably take the time to understand them first.  As I said, I am not trying to be completely antagonistic.  I understand that my views are a bit extreme.  Perhaps being a New Yorker and really living through 9/11 invoked a larger sense of passion in making sure our country stays protected; and even a willingness to make personal sacrifices.  Yes, I said it, personal sacrifices. I would be ignorant for expecting all Americans to think in that same way. But all I am asking is for the public to be a little less hostile and understand that if you get put on a watch list, assuming you have nothing to hide, maybe you should actually be glad to know that our government is working to protect us.  Because if they are watching thousands of people and only one of those people turns out to be a legitimate security threat, then that is a successful statistic in my mind.  And furthermore, when you use public internet sites, remember they are public sites. I fully understand and respect the constitutional amendments and privacy rights.  But in a country where thousands of soldiers are sacrificing their lives to protect the people who live in it, I personally am okay with making small sacrifices as well.  I am okay with the government looking at my Facebook and even my emails. And if the government sees something that they deem suspicious, I am okay with them contacting me.  Why?  Because the last thing I would ever want is to turn my news on and relive the horror of 9/11.   I think it’s time people understand the reality that national security is a relentless task.  It requires our country to be obsessive and intrusive.  So people need to consider whether their privacy is more important that the safety of their country.  I urge people to be a bit less selfish when making their choice.