Who isn't tired of this BS?

[Ripley]

Last night I was looking at family photos from Christmas. As I looked at pictures of my 73 year old Korean-war veteran father standing in front of the entrance sign to Keesler Air Force Base, it made me mad.

My Dad (who lives in NC) wanted to get a picture of himself there, where he was in training (as a de-coder) as a teenager. We were in Biloxi, MS (where Keesler is located) because I hosted a 50th anniversary party for my parents there. Their anniversary is Dec. 26.

It was a sunny afternoon and there was a lot of traffic entering and exiting the base. We parked at the Visitor Center then walked across the street and took pictures of Dad in front of the main sign on a busy intersection. I felt silly, because I knew the locals in line to go in or out of the base were looking at us like "what the heck are these tourists taking pictures of a sign for?"

Then, I remembered Bush's world. I said "maybe we should go now." But Dad and my husband said "Look, there's a better sign he can stand in front of that says which Tactical Wing it is!" I started to feel panic.

I went to the car and they walked over to the other sign. Then, suddenly a very fast-moving, large, gun-pointing, military camo-dressed man ran over toward them with his arm raised. Me and my mother and sister in the car said "OH SHIT!" Mind you...this huge concrete sign with the huge letters designating which flight wing is based here was located at the other end of the Visitor's Parking Lot, outside the base.

Fortunately, they did not have their cameras confiscated and were only told (in no uncertain terms) to get in their car and leave.

What kind of country do we Americans live in now where an old man taking pictures of a sign outside the entrance to his old base in order to share them with his other senior veteran friends...is treated like a threat?

This situation is out of hand. I won't even go into the complete harassment my Dad got going through airport security for this trip because he has a pacemaker and can't go through the metal detector.

I am afraid. Not of some terrorist killing me, but of the sea change in this government that is affecting each and every one of us personally.

Ben Franklin said this was wrong many years ago. What is wrong with all of the people we now have in government that seem to think otherwise?

[ewagner]

1. Thanks for the post Ripley

I know what you're talking about.

btw....thanks also for the "heads-up". I was planning on visiting Keesler with my family this summer. I went to tech school there too. Have to rethink the trip.

[Ripley]

9. You should still go.

Beau Rivage is a great hotel/casino to stay in...check the internet for discounts. You can show your family the area (Beauvoir is an interesting historical place) and it's only an hour away from New Orleans.

Just don't prance in front of the Keesler signs with cameras. ;-)

[RobertSeattle]

2. Sounds like a Tom Tomorrow comic from a few weeks ago

http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=16263

[Ripley]

5. Thanks, I needed a laugh.

Who IS this Arthur Frommer, and why does he hate America?

Classic.

[bushwakker]

3. We've already lost

The clampdown is underway.

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. The saddest thing about this is

the utter disrespect shown to your father , a veteran

[Ripley]

7. Exactly. But do you think they would even consider that?

Gee, maybe this old geezer is a veteran of here?

Nope.

[hang a left]

6. So tired, so angry, so so sad. I fear for my children.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Today was a dark day

I just keep hope that the darkest hour is still before dawn?

[buycitgo]

10. can't TELL you how sickened I am by that story

my dad was in the 84th infantry during WWII; made it to platoon sgt at age 21, after two months' combat....almost everybody else got killed in his unit

he trained down in LA swamps;....still have a snakeskin in his medal box from then

I wear one of his dogtags from WWII (gave the the other to my brother); started just before the invasion last year, as I realized, finally, that we LOST WWII!

we lost it to the fascists that have taken control of our government, to the fasicst that allowed NAZIS to participate in our own intelligence agencies immediately following the war, instead of PROSECUTING them as war criminals (thanks, Dulles, Truman, etal).

my dad isn't around anymore, and I wonder what he'd think about all this

he and my mother were both wingnuts, Birchers, actually, so I can't

imagine how they'd be taking all this

like to think they'd have awakened

your story makes me VERY angry and sad at the same time...almost wish he'd pressed the issue.....made a big STINK about it.

maybe when I get a little older, I'll do something like that, assuming we still are allowed to travel about

[Ripley]

13. Interesting that you mention that "stink" thing.

My father is the type of hard-headed person that normally would make a STINK about even the smallest thing. At the airport, when they were patting down his groin and rubbing their hands across his bald head in security at the airport (because he has a pacemaker and can't go through the machine) he lifted his middle finger to them all! We loved it and I wish I had gotten a picture of it.

However, these guys at Keesler had guns and surely their orders nowadays are "trust no one."

Common sense has left America.

[buycitgo]

15. heh......good for him

get this

I got thrown off a plane waiting to take off for saying
"jahwohl" to a steward!

I'd just been told, after a minor contretemps, begun by said steward, that I could be tossed off for ANY reason by the crew; that things had changed since 911, and they didn't have to take ANYthing from anybody anymore....to which I made my response in German.

their response: they brought a NatGuard guy on the plane and took me off.

he had a gun, too, but didn't pull it.

stupid of me, but you should have SEEN the sneering face of that tiny creep.....REALLY REALLY reminded me of some pimpy little gauleiter.

[Ripley]

16. My German is non-existent.

What does "jahwohl" mean? Let me guess...asshole?

Wow, lucky you weren't fingerprinted and thrown in jail. I hope that doesn't happen to my partner who will be flying back from Stuttgart tomorrow on Delta. Remember about a week ago when they grounded a plane from Germany in Ireland? They fingerprinted and delayed all passengers for a day because...get this...are you ready...it was the most awful thing...

some friggin drunk left a note on toilet paper in the john that said "A bomb is on this plane."

[Kellanved]

19. Nope, it's pretty harmless

"Jawohl" is like "Yes Sir"; a military/subordinate "yes".

[Ripley]

25. Thanks for the translation...

Does everyone know the Peace sign? :)

[Karenina]

20. Get ready...

Jawohl means, Yes Sir (military use) or you got that right or you better believe it or I'm with ya... u.s.w.

[Toots]

11. Apparently Americans as a whole are cowards

They seem to more scared of everything around them than any other country in the world. A good example of this is the national gun insanity that is rampant in America. Everybody has to have a gun because they are afraid. How did America become so cowardly.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

22. Freedom = risk

This whole business about giving up our freedoms to prevent terrorism is ridiculous. Of course we should vigorously prosecute the perps of 9/11 which may require military and intelligence missions. However the whole concept of American freedom, I thought, was about increased freedom accompanied by increased risks. Freedom to take risks in business = freedom to make millions = freedom to go bankrupt. Freedom to have guns = living with the risk of more gun violence. Freedom of movement = increased ability to get away with some types of crime. If the price of GUARANTEEING no more 9/11 incidents was to live in a Hitler type state (it couldn't be guaranteed anyway), it wouldn't be worth it. Better to take our chances, to a point. What the hell is wrong with people anyway...

[boobooday]

12. Totally outrageous

This is absolutely disgusting. Oh my god, we can't get these fascists out of here soon enough!

[Eroshan]

14. Welcome to AmeriKA

the new world order, keeps everyopne in line through fear.

[justsam]

18. the patriot act is not in full force yet,

if the present administration in DC aren't thrown out this fall, i believe you will start hearing real horror stories, even a lot of cops are taking advantage of the patriot now, if anyone thinks America can't become a police state, they are on the wrong planet

[Solomon]

17. Here's the experience which really pissed me off.

I live about a quarter mile from the National Institute of Health Complex. They kind of have some kind of Naval officer's base there as well. Before 9-11 the grounds were open to everyone and everydsy I would ride thru there on the way to work to pick up a breakfast sandwich at McDonalds that is located on the grounds.

Well, after 9-11, they shut some of the entrances and exits to the grounds so that they could control who went in and out, but you could still go in, you just had to show some id and tell 'em you were going to McDonald's.

One day, for some reason, they decided to change their policy again. From now on, only employees or people with special id's could enter. I had no problem with this. What I did have a problem with was how I was treated. Right at the booth to go in, there's an immediate turn around to go back out if you can't get in. When the guard told me I couldn't go to McDonald's I turned into the turn around from which there's only one direction you can go - out.
They had military personnel with guns, however, jamming up the line to get out. I saw them searching cars and trunks. When it was my turn, an officer with a very nasty attitude asked me what I wanted. I said I was just trying to leave since they won't let the publc go to the McDonald's anymore. The officer hesitated as he sneered at me and said in a very nasty manner, that's right, you can't go to McDonalds. He stood in my way as if he wasn't going to let me out.
This awkward situation lasted a little while as I guess the officer pondered whether to make me get out of my car for a search. Finally, some other military type called over to him, and with another sneer, he ordered me to get out, as though I weren't trying to get the fuck out of there.

I never felt more alienated in my own country, in my own neighborhood as that day. It just didn't make any sense whatsoever. I did nothing wrong but drive straight around the turnaround which the guard at the gate told me too. Yet the other guy acted like I was a criminal. It really pissed me off although they wouldn't have known it because I'm always on my best behavior around such types.

Now I can understand giving people the bullshit trying to get in to somewhere, but trying to get OUT ... I figured maybe he was mad he was doing this kind of duty instead of being able to kill some Iraqis.
Take it out on us americans. It made me sick to my stomach.

[buycitgo]

31. go back....try it again...if they give you that attitude,

pull out your vidcam/camera, take their pix, demand their IDs and file a complaint.

at least get their ids and file a complaint

course, who knows where THAT would lead

make sure if they use any kind of abusive, threatening language to have them charged with assault!

verbal abuse is ASSAULT.

you can look it up

[Devlzown]

21. I had a similar experience at Keesler

a couple of years ago. I live in Gulfport, and it isn't unusual for me and other locals to drive around the base if we happen to be in that part of Biloxi. Now it gives me the creeps to drive past it -- kind of the way old overgrown cemeteries used to make me feel when I was a kid. It's sad to feel that way about a place in the middle of your town. It makes you feel like you're being occupied.

[SheilaT]

23. We are living in a police state

and have been since shortly after 9/11.

Stories like these enrage me.

[TexasMexican]

24. Pretty Sad

that is pretty sad.

[oneighty]

26. In my military

career there were places where NOBODY could take pictures for security reasons and never pictures in restricted areas. Normally warning signs are posted though.

180

[Ripley]

27. I will speak for DU and say "thanks 180"

We respect your tour.

No "warning" signs kept us out.

On edit: I do not speak for DU on my statements other than to thank our veteran 180.

:)

[Mormegil42]

28. Forgive me if I'm a bit confused by this story

but last summer (August 3rd 2003) I took my parents to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, to take some pictures of the two of them in front of the Blue Angel (F16 I think) displayed out front. It was their 60th wedding anniversary and this base is were they met during WWII. A guard came out and asked us what we were doing and my pop explained the situation. We were treated with the utmost respect and OD came out and took pictures for us. My dad is in a wheel chair and this gentleman ( a younger guy to me, he was in his early 30's) pushed my father around and told him what an honor it was to spend time with someone who was a veteran of WWII.

Your experience was bad but the one my father had was something to remember. The current military treated my daddy with honor. Maybe things are different where you are but I saw how my dad treated and I was proud.

Gary Babcock.

[Ripley]

30. Are you currently a flyer?

Well, that explains it huh? My father really had no interest in going back to his youth...

I think bases should have a little more respect for their elders. Maybe it isn't cool to be old to yall....but guess what?

You will also suffer from this.

[PVnRT]

29. We live in the Kingdom of Fear

That is how Bush keeps his numbers up: keeping people afraid. That will be his message, although it will be subtle - make people afraid of him leaving office, keep people afraid while he's there, so that anything he does will look great and comforting.

[baldguy]

32. This is not your father's America.

People who love this country are considered threats to the Bush Junta.

[Ripley]

33. Not nice.

I don't like these