Be afraid!
Fear, fear, fear! It’s what keeps the military state alive, keeps the cops well-funded. It’s your duty as a good citizen to be afraid. So, to help you along, at every turn, the powers that be need to inculcate fear, with visions of terrorists behind every bush, security theatre at every airport and bus stop, visions of out of control social faux pauses on every street corner.
It is, of course, a crock of shit. Generally speaking, our day-to-day lives are safer than at any time in human history, but there’s a political agenda behind fear-mongering, and so that’s what we get. The crime rate is plummeting, but never mind that–there’s a police economy to support.
So good on Chris Morrissey, CEO of the Canada Games for standing up to it. Reports CP and the Chronicle-Herlad:
The CEO of the Canada Winter Games in Halifax was defending security preparations on the eve of the opening ceremonies.
Chris Morrissey confirmed Thursday that Dave Worrell, co-head of security for the Games, has resigned over concerns there is not enough security for the two-week event that opens today.
“Unfortunately, there’s a difference of opinion,” Morrissey said in an interview.
“Dave thought to go his own way, but I’m comfortable based on my Canada Games experience . . . and the feedback we’ve been receiving that we are meeting, if not exceeding, some of the Canada Games standards.
“This will be a very safe environment for all participants involved in the Games.”
Of course, the culture is so distorted by the security theatre nonsense that we’re hearing blowback. “Security concerns overshadow Canada Games opening,” states News 95.7; “some guy jumps a barrier n attacks athlete? security at another venue.. could b bad,” says a Twitter follower, imagining Jeff Gillooly taking out half the synchronized swimming team.
This is silly, people. Nobody wants to hurt anyone at the Canada Games, and if there was some personal vendetta that could spill over to violence, all the cops in the world won’t be able to prevent it.
Look: cops always want more equipment and more personnel and more guns and more metal detectors and more power and more importance. That’s what cops do.
It’s our duty to call bullshit and to restrain the police state. So Chris Morrissey is a breath of fresh air, saying enough is enough.
This is a wonderful start to the Games.
Send us your Canada Games pics and vids; email ourgames@thecoast.ca.
Update!
Tonya Harding Expecting Baby Boy
This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2011.
Morons!
I saw a little kid from Quebec, or some other “from away” place in the pedways from Purdy’s.
He looked a little sketchy, so I followed him for awhile.
Guess what????
His “coaches” stopped me from following him into his hotel room to see if there was anything weird going on!!!!!!!
SECURITY!!!!!
Don’t turn Halifax into the police state that was Vancouver during the Olympics a year ago. It was a great time, and everybody *felt* safe, but at the same time, it felt odd being constantly scrutinized by cops that you don’t necessarily trust.
Get rid of the bunker mentalilty.
Buddy wanted more cars, radios and cellphones.
Good riddance Mr Worrell.
All Ive experienced since the games started are threats of sitting in jail for the day anytime Im caught pan-handling, and tonnes of tickets, almost $1000 worth since one week before the games(how the hell is someone on disability and making a tiny bit on the side pan-handling to get through the month, supposed to pay $1000 in tickets, but thats the thing, they know that, but they give em to me so they can eventually lock me up when I can’t pay them), the whole time I cant help but feel the way Im sure the poor and homeless in Vancouver felt during the Olympics.
hide your problems for the tourists halifax!.