When my name is a number on a piece of plastic film.

I was reading over at jurassicpork this morning where he made mention of an incident I thought well worth reiterating here to those of us who are still living the misconception we live in a free and open society.

I would hate to see anyone violently shaken from that illusion like two vegans who were among a small group demonstrating on public property against a Honey Baked Ham store in Georgia.

This happened way back in December of 2003, but I thought repeating it may save many still living in the phantasma of the "land of the free" a lot of grief. Obviously, we haven't been for some time. See, what happened during their little protest was a man appeared and took photographs of the group from his unmarked car.

A little uncomfortable from being photographed by this stranger, Caitlin Childs and Christopher Freeman decided to write down a description of the car along with its license plate number.

But after the demonstration, they discovered they were being followed by two men in that very car. Eventually, they pulled in behind the vegans and demanded the paper they had written a description of the car on. Declining, Childs was cuffed and body searched for that paper. At least one of the men worked for Homeland Security. Both vegans were arrested after Childs' paper and house keys were seized (which were never returned).

On at least two occasions I've had the "privilege" to be photographed (I must be doing something right?) of which I was aware. Once by a couple of strangers with cameras sporting zoom lenses far longer than our Bill of Rights. And once by a low flying government helicopter passing dangerously close to a small group demonstrating against the US harboring of airliner bomber and terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles.

Fortunately, on both occassions I had the presence of mind to NOT raise my camera against those ID'ing the crowd or I may have faced grief similar to our vegans here. Just remember, when you find yourself being observed or photographed by strangers, that is their right. Do NOT attempt to return the favor. That is NOT your right.

I get a little tired of warnings of the potential for a civil war in Iraq if we leave. Iraq is already in a civil war. I get tired of warnings the US is turning into a fascist state. The US is already a fascist state.

In the words of Harry Belafonte, "We've come to this dark time in which the new Gestapo of Homeland Security lurks here, where citizens are having their rights suspended." So buck it up fellow Americans and just swallow that will-o'-the wisp dream of a free America you're living in.