In still other words, what if we chose to accept the fact that every few years, despite all reasonable precautions, some hundreds or thousands of us may die in the sort of ghastly terrorist attack that a democratic republic cannot 100-percent protect itself from without subverting the very principles that make it worth protecting?
Interesting thought, to randomly give up x amount of lives to make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and the american principles
What if we chose to regard the 2,973 innocents killed in the atrocities of 9/11 not as victims but as democratic martyrs
Great fact. It makes you think how sad it was for all those people to die
effects on the American idea of Guantánamo,
have not been informed on these effects
Have we actually become so selfish and scared that we don’t even want to consider whether some things trump safety?
Why have we become so selfish and self centered as a country that the loss of lives has become so routine?
Was there no such debate because we’re not capable of having or demanding one?
i believe that many people are becoming scared to speak there mind, there are always many consequences to those who do speak there mind.
In other words, what if we decided that a certain baseline vulnerability to terrorism is part of the price of the American idea?
That would be horrible if that were true. Terrorism shouldn't be the price of anything.
the delusory trade-off of liberty for safety that Ben Franklin warned about more than 200 years ago?
Sounds like Ben Franklin would like the "people shouldn't be afraid of their government, it's the government that should fear it's people" idea from V for Vendetta
Was there no such debate because we’re not capable of having or demanding one?
"Is America too concerned about political correctness to be concerned about safety or even reality?"
Why now can we not have a serious national conversation about sacrifice, the inevitability of sacrifice
we should be informed of everything going on...how can we trust the government if we are not informed with the truth behind whats going on
Would it be monstrous to refer to the 40,000-plus domestic highway deaths we accept each year because the mobility and autonomy of the car are evidently worth that high price?
comparing domestic highway deaths to an act of terrorism but as an monstrous experiment,
Is this thought experiment monstrous
I would argue that it is, but at the same time it is essential
Have we actually become so selfish and scared that we don’t even want to consider whether some things trump safety
I see what you did there. Trump!
Are some things still worth dying for? Is the American idea1 one such thing? Are you up for a thought experiment?
I like how the article is started, it makes you want to keep reading it
Have we actually become so selfish and scared that we don’t even want to consider whether some things trump safety? What kind of future does that augur?
Sometimes you need to put things before political correctness. National security is one of those things.
Why now can we not have a serious national conversation about sacrifice, the inevitability of sacrifice—either of (a) some portion of safety or (b) some portion of the rights and protections that make the American idea so incalculably precious?In the absence of such a conversation, can we trust our elected leaders to value and protect the American idea as they act to secure the homeland?
How long can we keep avoiding this talk? Why doesn't the gov. just tell the people their plan and the truth instead of hiding whats happening..
What if we chose to regard the 2,973 innocents killed in the atrocities of 9/11 not as victims but as democratic martyrs, “sacrifices on the altar of freedom”?
Deep thought.
What are the effects on the American idea of Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, Patriot Acts I and II, warrantless surveillance, Executive Order 13233, corporate contractors performing military functions, the Military Commissions Act, NSPD 51, etc., etc.?
Not sure what the effects of Guantanamo are
“sacrifices on the altar of freedom”
i see what you did there!
Is monstrousness why no serious public figure now will speak of the delusory trade-off of liberty for safety that Ben Franklin warned about more than 200 years ago?
This is very Republican and controversial and I like it
In still other words
It's time to get to the point