Freedom at the Feet of "Lady Liberty"

Realizing, we have just about reliquished all of our freedom to Homeland Security, does anyone wonder where it will stop? Or have we all just settled in to accept the fact, this train has gained enough momentum to not be stopped. Supposedly 12 million illegal immigrants have made their way through the southern border undetected. And we all got to read about the TB scare a couple of weeks ago, with that man making his way back into the country through the northern border, while security had already been alerted in regard to his circumstances. So, why are so many in this country just choosing to be deceived or confused as to what freedom is? I read something that our President said and was just fascinated at his concern . . .

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/
The greatest challenge facing people of conscience is to help the forces of moderation win the great struggle against extremism that is now playing out across the broader Middle East,” Bush said, citing “the rise of a group of extremists who seek to use religion as a path to power and a means of domination.”

Of course, he's not referring to the religious right of this country, but rather, as the story reads on, he is separating "peaceable Muslims" from the extremists. You'd think in all of his sorting pertaining to terrorism, he'd have been able to separate the Arab countries as well. I still don't know why he and his followers do not realize the difference between Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi. I realize we are supposed to believe that bin Laden was in Afghanistan, but obviously that is no longer an issue in our war on terror, yet our freedoms continue to be squelched and scrutinized. I was in New York in 2004, before they "reopened" the Statue of Liberty. I didn't even bother with the "free tour" with a ferry trip of $10 or $11. Isn't that just slick how that works out with our nation's idols? They belong to we the people, but . . . I was also in Philadelphia in 2004 and got to see what was called the "ark" for the protection of the Liberty Bell. The glass glares and the casing around it is dark, so I didn't see the Liberty Bell, just the anti-terror protection. I wondered then, why so much was done to protect a piece of metal, when supposedly American lives could be in danger at all times . . . and then I thought, oh yeah, this is how "they" work. Are the "they" the terrorists or political leaders of America? You decide. Meanwhile, after August of '04, they reopened the tour of the Statue of Liberty, but this restriction from the crown, as it is called is a bit more confining and now it's supposedly only for safety issues. How convenient. According to FOXNews, an American tourist can now gain direct access to the platform on which she stands. According to the article in this link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286882,00.html

A staff study in the late 1990s found that it was a safety hazard to allow people to go up to the crown. In 2000, a private engineering company reached the same findings about safety issues and fire hazards, Feeney said.
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886 and designated a national monument in 1924. It was restored for its centennial on July 4, 1986. Its torch has been closed since 1916.

So, with all of that, why did it not get closed until 9/11? And what about all the "spiffing up" done through the Reagan years for the centennial of her arrival from France? It just doesn't add up, as usual. In this great land of liberty, but only after stringent security, X-rayed bags, and walk through metal detectors, you can stand at the toes of the Statue of Liberty.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image . . .Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them . . . Ten Commandments, Holy Scripture