Thanks for your point of view, Elaine, on a list dedicated to something else. Think we've lost a bunch of freedoms? Take a look at how those laws are helping to keep us safer came to be. They were passed by Congress and many have already been tested in one court or the other. If you really want to see laws and powers that took away rights, try looking at Mr. Lincoln in the US Civil War and those invoked by FDR in World War II. The interesting thing about such critiques as yours is you have not offered an alternative to keep us safe. If you want to see the US go nuts, wait till you see a dirty bomb, bio or chemical attacks on a large scale or a city or two get vaporized with a real nuclear weapon. Between the President and bin Laden, I'll take the Prez. Stay safe, Sis. Joe JOSEPH N. SOOS, SR. REMEMBER - September 11, 2001 ----- Original Message ---- From: "polloe@earthlink.net" <polloe@earthlink.net> To: HUNGARY-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 2:17:29 AM Subject: RE: [HUNGARY-L] Bush's speech Warning!!!! What follows is a comment about American's current political condition from one Citizen's perspective, mine. IF you do not enjoy Genealogy within a socioeconomic political perspective, you might prefer to not read this posting. :) **************************************************************************** **************************** Well I put a copy of Bush's speech in my Socioeconomic, political file for future generations of family members to read. Of course, I feel obligated to also leave a note in this same file, that at the same time Pres. Bush is talking to the Hungarian people about Freedom, and that the USA is proclaiming Freedom for the Iraqi people, this same President, is also taking Freedoms AWAY FROM American Citizens. The American government NOW feels they HAVE THE RIGHT to enter into Citizens private affairs without a legal search warrant. They also believe they have the right to detain Citizens WITHOUT Due Process of the American Court System. The LOSE of these Freedoms in the USA since the 911 Attacks has been VERY FAR REACHING. As American Citizen we are told this IS for OUR Safety. Those familiar with the psychology of Propaganda and it's insidious "Double Speak", will clearly see this for what it is. It is very possible that those on this List from Central Europe will see this for what it is, far more easily than those of us in the USA!! Why, because the taste of abuse of Power is more familiar to those in Central & Eastern Europe. If someone is over 30 years old in Central or Eastern Europe, they have lived a part of their lives under a government that abused it's power. Since 2001, the Bush Administration has been systematically eroading the foundation of basic rights guarenteed to American Citizens through our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Citizens and political leaders that question these tactics are called "Un-american"!!!! Actually, in the USA we currently see little public discussion/ debate about these issues. WHY are American Citizens sitting back and ALLOWING these Freedoms/ Rights to be taken away by the Power of an Adminisrative "Classified" Memo????? In my opinion, it seems that many American Citizens are so "drunk" (sedated) with our prosperity, that we don't even blink an eye when basic Freedoms are taken away. Why, because economically we are Fat & Satisfied. It runs across political parties. Think back to what former Pres. Clinton said after the 911 Attacks. Loose translation, "Go about your normal lives. Don't change life because of what happen on 911". What did Clinton mean by this? He meant, "Don't stop spending $$$$$. Keep spending $$$$ like you did before 911". Reason, otherwise, America would have an instant depression. No one wants that, so do your "civic duty", and spend $$$$ At some point, American Citizens will wake-up and see what has happened to our Basic Freedoms. Then America might need a "1956 revolt". Guess what, the American Military WILL be mobilized to quelch such a "Revolt"!!!! We'll see tanks in American streets too. You don't think it can happen here in America, watch!!! When the economy tanks ( goes down), and Americans wake from their "stooper" , there will be mass unrest. The governmental responce will be mass arrests. It's at this time, Americans will "wake-up" from their "Fat Economic Stooper" to see the Basic Rights and Freedoms we have let slip away!!!! At that point the Patriot Act passed by the American Congress and Senate after the 911 attacks, will now be used on American Citizens. By participating in mass "Protests", these Citizens will be seen as "Subversive". Since they are seen as "Subversives", they will soon find out that their Due Process to the American Court System was elliminated under the Patriot Act!!!!! Our Legistlative branch of govenment is just beginning to question the Bush Administation. Slowly they are waking up and seeing that the Balance of Power has dramatically shifted since 911. The Executive Branch of the Bush Administation has become FAR TO POWERFULL since 911. The Legislative Branch has lost MUCH POWER since 911. Fortunitly, Legislators from the Presidents own Party are beginning to question the lack of balance in power since 911. So as one Citizen in America, I have hope that our Balence of Power can be restored without a "revolt". That's the "Grace" in a Free Governmental Process. Free govenments have an ability to use non-violent political discussion/ debate to arrive at a consensious of opinion. If the citizens are not happy with the direction their elected representatives are going, they can elect others to those offices. This process works best when citizens are active participants in the process. When they vote. When they share their thoughts and opinions with their Senators & Legislators at the state and national level. When they contact the President. Unfortunitly many of us in the USA take our freedom for granted. Few actively participate in our own FREE political process. I bet if you surveyed Hungarians who became American Citizens after the 1956 uprising in Hungary, you would find a higher % of those who voted than the general American Citizen. Why, because Freedom is VERY valuable to them. They know first hand what it means NOT to be Free. Hopefully, our governmental process WILL work. For it to work, there MUST be public discussion. So to those who will say to an Email like this: "Let's not talk Politics on a Genealogy List". I say in responce, the world is not one dimentional. Please allow those who see Genealogy as more encompusing than, who was born when and when did they die, to share thoughts, ideas & opinions about topics that relate to the world our ancestors lived in or we currently live in. Above ALL else, let's NOT discourage Freedom of Speech amongst those who research genealogy in a part of the world that has endured MUCH oppression in our own life time. Thanks for listening. I'm interested in hearing from others their perspectives on past & current socioeconomic- political conditions. Personally, I would very much welcome hearing the thought and opinions of those who currently live in Central Europe. Elaine PS: To those of you who are Republicans, please do not label me as just another "Bush Basher". I have grave concerns about the direction this administation is taking OUR country.As a citizen, I have every right to express my concerns and to have them taken seriously. We NEED discussion in this country, not reteric from either political party. I hope those in the broader Republican Party will look at what is REALLY happening here and begin to ask questions in their party. Begin to seek fresh approaches. Restore the Balance of Power between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. For the record, I'm not a Demicrate either. I'm an Independent. Yes, a dreaded Independent. Yes, I Vote! I'm VERY displeased with the shift of power in OUR country. I'm VERY concerned about this current Adminisrations OBVIOUS actions that clearly deminsrate that they see themselves ABOVE THE LAW of this country. Honestly, how could any reasonable person not see this blatant disregard for the Balance of Power built into OUR founding documents. Let's get real!!! This is serious stuff!!! Elaine > [Original Message] > From: Janet Kozlay <kozlay@comcast.net> > To: <HUNGARY-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 6/23/2006 8:20:51 AM > Subject: RE: [HUNGARY-L] Bush's speech > > You can read the text of Bush's speech in Budapest, as released by his > Office of the Press Secretary, at > http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060622-6.html. I say "as > released," because the written text is not quite accurate. > > I was appalled when I read that he and Laura had made a visit to "Hokok > Square . . . Hokok Square is named for the father of Hungarian democracy." > Hokok? Fortunately I was able to hear the actual speech on C-SPAN, and Bush > made proper reference to Kossuth. Someone in the Press Secretary's office > needs to have his ears boxed, and perhaps taught a little about Hungary's > history. > > Janet > >