"I took some pictures at the airport -- and fell into the clutches of

bureaucrats mouthing the cheap prose of patriotic convenience."

By Patrick Smith
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2006/02/10/askthepilot173/

"... It's January 2006, and I'm at the airport in Manchester, N.H. This is a state, mind you, famous for its fiery brand of New England individualism -- a haven for refugees from big-government tyrannies, like that sweltering welfare state to the south, Massachusetts. Here, license plates cry liberty in no uncertain terms: "Live Free or Die."

There's a shiny new airport in Manchester, and I'm there to take pictures as part of an article I'm working on for that mouthpiece of liberal fascism, the Boston Globe. I've shot about six digital pictures, and I'm working on the seventh -- a nicely framed view of the terminal façade -- when I hear the stern "Excuse me." A young guy in a navy windbreaker steps toward me. It says AIRPORT SECURITY in block letters across his back. "You can't do that. You need to put the camera away."

"I do? Why?"

"Pictures aren't allowed.""

Now you can't take pictures at airports -- and they can't or won't even tell you why.

You learn to censor yourself and never take photos on base.

Now I'm not taking photos even when I travel within the US -- I feel like I'm living on a military base. But in this case America seems to have turned into a military base -- with a nut case C.O. or as he calls himself -- Commander in Chief (Chimp).

This is a clear infringement of the First Amendment.

Camera use is strictly prohibited.

Fucking fascist morons.

http://69.93.170.43/index.php


...He went on to tell me that the minute I’d photographed federal property, citing the Ballard Locks, the train bridge and the Patriot Act, that I’d, again, broken the law. Of course, I asked why there weren’t any signs on that parcel of public property disclosing that photography was forbidden...