Just a couple of days ago, I was in the airport talking about...

[tjwash]

...Congress passing a resolution to the Senate. The usual stuff my wife hears from me; how only 33 dems voted for it, and how it was another one of the Conservatives religious right pandering jobs, and how Bush and this cronies have completely sold us out to the far Conservative Christian movement, and right at that point, I noticed something.

I had lowered my voice, and I was looking around the area, because I actually wanted to see if anyone was actually watching me, and listening. That's right, I have actually gotten paranoid about discussing things in public now, especially if I mention the shrub. Just things like peoples cars getting keyed for having anti-bush bumper stickers, people houses having rocks thrown at them for Kerry/Edwards signs in the yards, etc. Little things over the past three years have gotten me to almost self censure myself in public places now.

Makes me wonder if that is happening to anyone else out there.

[Divernan]

1. I didn't take Guevara's "The Bolivian Diary" to read on the plane.

The cover includes the statement, "Introduction by Fidel Castro". But I have occasionally had surprising conversations with seatmates who are business people who are horrified by Bush and his maladministration.

And I bought it for cash, not with my credit card or even my Barnes & Noble discount members card.

[GoneOffShore]

2. I kick it up a notch.

I've had freepers honk and scream at my Bush Lied, Thousands Died sign. I have no difficulty speaking out in public places or in private.

I speak my piece.

Not to jump on you, because you may live somewhere that you could get hurt by your neighbors, but we have to keep speaking up and speaking out.

[bigscott]

7. I actually enjoy baiting them in airports

(not at the security line) and at coffee shops, bars etc. I am loud and proud to be a progressive- of course - i have been told i have a "look" that discourages people from giving me a hard time

[magellan]

3. Indeed it has

Whether or not I want it to, I find that five years of hearing liberals equated with terra'ists and traitors by angry Republicans HAS made me super cautious of what I'll say in public. I often catch myself instinctively lowering my voice and looking around. What snaps me out of it is remembering that this learned paranoia that chills speech is exactly the result Bush** and the Repugs are looking for. Absolute hatred wells up in me for what they've done. And then I speak louder.

[negativenihil]

4. This is just what "they" want you to feel!

the more you're afraid to speak your mind, the less chance there is that you'll get someone ELSE thinking....

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Not me, my 36 yr-old son and I always loudy discuss 'politics' in

public places....hoping we may enlighten some of the sheep around here!

[Bigmack]

6. Lucky you....

you can lower your voice while ranting. I wish I could turn down my sweet wife's volume control when she's ranting in public places.

She really talks nasty! Lots of f words and such. I don't know where she learned that shit!

It's not that I don't talk loud, but she's really loud.

I told her that if I get into some kind of dustup defending her, it's her fault.

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. I have real reason to think

that my current less than desirable employment situation in a traditionally conservative industry in a crazy frickin' red employment at will state is at least partially related to my political views. That conclusion is based on several comments that have been made to me by both former co-workers and potential employers.

[leftofthedial]

9. lowering your voice doesn't help anymore

high tech fascism is pretty ubiquitous.

if you don't do well being tortured, you might want to invest in some sort of poison.

[havocmom]

11. Sad AND true that

Time to pay attention to your wise old local herbalists

And never fail to tell loved ones you love them at every parting. Leave no important words for tomorrow. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

[havocmom]

10. Not just you. My daughter & I have frequent phone chats.

We are both pretty outspoken, AND humorously irreverent. There are no sacred cows with us, save the US Constitution. There are no oxen safe from our verbal goring! We use terms which probably trip surveillance computers left, right and sideways! And I live in an area which is known for being watched closely by Feds anyway, we have known for years that it is likely most or all calls around here are monitored.

My daughter and I do not censor the words/concepts we use in our chats. But, lately, I know we are both a bit, well, AWARE and somewhat stressed about the likelihood that what we say is gonna be used against us when the shit hits the fan. There is a bit of hesitancy in both of us that no one else would even notice. It is the first time in over thirty years that there is ANY sort of inhibition of full expression between us on matters of current events and politics.

THAT is a chilling realization. These people have made my daughter and I aware that our silly ramblings and poking fun at the news can be used to deny us our birthright and civil rights as citizens of the US. They won't stop our free-wheeling chats, but there is a chill in both of us as we realize the danger our daily discourse is under the current regime.

Sad, really, because when I gave birth to her, I was in the United States of America, not the U.S.S.R. We never left home, but home sure as hell left us.

[AnnieBW]

12. On My FLight From Dallas To San Jose

I saw a guy wearing an "Air America" t-shirt. I was amazed that he had the guts to wear it while passing through Dallas, and that American Airlines let him on the plane. I didn't see where he passed through security, though. :D