With this boat purchase this week - I picked up almost every single brochure at the boating place. Brochures on boat safety, DNR Regulations, etc, etc - - one of the brochures I picked up was one distributed by our US Government. It was called Eyes on the Water - which is an initiative by the 9th District Coast Guard that requests the following:
Do you live, work or play along the shores of the Great Lakes? Then you probably know the waterfront–what’s usual and what’s unusual–as well as your local law enforcement officials do. They need your help in a Great Lakes-wide program of “block watches†over the waterfront. Help cast a wider net to keep America safe.
What to look for
As a regular along the waterfront, you have a good idea about what routine behavior looks like. And you might be able to recognize unusual behavior when you see it as well. It may be innocent, but reporting it to authorities will help ensure our security.Places of particular interest
Keep an eye out for strange activities around key waterfront locales, such as the following:
• Under or around bridges.
• Around entrances to tunnels.
• Near power plants
• Near water intakes/treatment plants
• Around oil or chemical facilities
• At fuel docks
• Near military bases
It goes on and on. I found the brochure interesting - - and since we will be spending a good deal of time in and around the Great Lakes areas this, and subsequent summers . . of course we’ll do our part.
My question, however, is - - does this make us vigilantes? - - or does it make us part of the government sponsored Citizen Corps?.
The Citizen Corps is part of the overall Freedom Corps:
Americans responded to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, with courage and compassion, as well as a renewed commitment to doing good and desire to help others. In January 2002, President George W. Bush created the USA Freedom Corps to capture the spirit of sacrifice that emerged throughout our communities and provide Americans with meaningful opportunities to serve their communities and our country.
Citizen Corps, a vital component of USA Freedom Corps, was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.
That being said . . . I have to wonder about the Minutemen Project. The more than 1,000 people — including 30 pilots and their private planes — on the Arizona/Mexico border who monitor the movement of illegal aliens and report them to Border Control.
Aren’t these citizens responding to the call to duty made by our President, and government, after September 11th? That call to duty being the launch of the Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps, and subsequent other Corps. designed to get citizens involved in keeping an eye out for suspicious and illegal behavior - then reporting it to the proper authorities?
And our President turns around and calls these people ‘vigilantes’ and vows to pressure Congress to further loosen immigration law.
He wants citizens involved . . . he doesn’t want citizens involved. Which is it, anyways? Now we have to figure out the grey line between a volunteer citizen corps and vigilante activity. If you happen to know the deciding factor that differentiates the two - - please do share.
I realize I’m a bit behind on this story - - it happened weeks ago. It’s just “Eyes on the Water” brochure brought it to the forefront of my mind again. If we should decide to keep our eyes open while frequenting the Great Lakes - - I guess you all can just start referring to me as “Vigilante Lisa” . . . or something.
6:09 am on April 24th, 2005
First, have a blast getting to know the new addition to your family.
Second- good for you for accepting the CG’s invitation to help while boating. I think part of it is terror, but the mainly it is to look out for your fellow man. A distressed watercraft etc.
Thirdly- The Minutemen to me are a group of citizens that want to help the government. I can see where there would be a problem for the feds. If the MM stick to what they say they are there to do, it could save our government a great deal of resources. But the minute they start apprehending someone, that is where the trouble starts. Just as it would be trouble for you to see something suspicious from your boat; nd rather than call the CG, you and Chris try to detain the people.
I don’t see them as vigilantes, I see them as concerned citizens.
In both situations, the common thread is : Use Common Sense.
8:21 pm on April 24th, 2005
The difference is that the Minutemen are stepping up to do something the government doesn’t want to.
Not a fan of the Citizen Corps. To me, it’s just ‘narc on your neighbors’, and there’s way too much of that going on already. The cops are more concerned with handing out tickets and bringing in money than serving and protecting the public, and now think they should have everybody spying on everybody else. It’s one of the things that makes me compare Bush’s term to late 20’s and early 30’s Germany, as much as I hate to say it.
5:06 am on April 25th, 2005
Having been born and bred in NYC, the MinuteMen remind me oh, so much of Curtis Sliwa’s Guardian Angels. Once villified by the NYPD and the Mayor’s office, it is now heralded across the nation and in cities in 5 other countries.
As for the MinuteMen apprehending someone: Why not? Whatever happened to citizens arrest?
I regre the president used the term ‘vigilantes’. The MinuteMen are vigilant, but they are hardly vigilantes.
6:55 am on April 25th, 2005
I see what you are saying Astro, but Lake Michigan has many targets in between Lisa’s shore and mine. But i hope Lisa will dedicate a special thread for all the odd things she does see. Oh man there will be stories! And the radio is about a quarter of it.
Charlie- I see where the MM can be of assistance, but stopping the people can lead to problems. See story of Sgt. Haab. He is in a boatload of trouble at this point. He very well may be cleared, but look at the resources spent to let the illegals go because of an illegal stop. (That really sounds dumb; an illegal stop of illegals:shock
8:51 am on April 25th, 2005
I agree with Astro, the grey line for me is not all that grey, reporting crime (including illegal immigration) is the responcibility of every citizen, if these guys want to take a little more proactive role and activly seek out the criminals then more power to them, it is little more than the neighbourhood watch. however the second that they go from reporting crime to trying to enforce the law then things are going too far.
8:54 am on April 25th, 2005
5- Thank-you for saying that. i couln’t get the words to express what you said.
9:24 am on April 25th, 2005
Nice to know you’ll be watching our backs Lisa…I know I’ll sleep better.
Just remember to have some fun why your on those waters…:wink:
1:23 pm on April 25th, 2005
Yes, just get me a cape and put a big “L” on my chest and I’m off to save the world. lol
Hmm..tights - - what do ya think - - red or black?
1:38 pm on April 25th, 2005
I probably better not comment on Lisa having a big red S….
5:19 am on April 26th, 2005
With your eyes? I’d say red tights… my with some black striping.