Know Your Surroundings!

[Crazy Horse]

In light of what has happened Sept. 11th I think it's time EVERYONE in this country, whether you are in a large city or out in a small town, be very aware of your surroundings. No matter where you are; in your neighborhood, the shopping mall, the park, a football game, everywhere you are be very aware of whats going on around you. Note anything suspicious and report it to the proper authorities. BE VIGILANT!!!

PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING!

 

[Max340]

While I agree in sentiment, I dont agree in total. Know your surroundings... . do this by being the good neighbor, and having a clue who the guy next door is, even if he is like my neighbor, and throws green slime on my wheels each time he mows his lawn.



But don't report anything suspicios just because you feel like it. First, the cops don't want to be flooded with reports of your neighbors current affair if its not a security issue. Second, we dont want this to turn into pre-war Germany, where neighbors turned in neighbors because they had the wrong color eyes.



Get a good handle on whats going on, and think before acting, but then ACT if you feel its needed.

 

[DRR-24V]

Crazy Horse,

Good Post. I was a Cop most of my life and in that profession you had better stay aware of your surroundings if you plan to retire. Even now when going to make a deposit at the bank, I check out the parking lot and on entering, I check out the people inside. If there are no tellers in sight, or I see 2 guys in overcoats on a 100 degree day, I can make my deposit some other day. ! It don't hurt.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Don- That's exactly what I'm talking about. Everyone observing their surroundings a little bit more. And that includes looking out for your neighbor. KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR! . I think if people stopped to think about oddities a little bit more, some events might not go on and occur. I think there were some things go on in Florida to make you wonder; What If? I can tell you one thing, for about the last 15 years,when I'm in a public place I watch who's arround me and my wife. I'm not paranoid. I'm cautious.

 

[Chad Sheets]

Stay alert, stay safe, stay alive.

Dont be afraid to call things in. That's what police get paid to do, check things out and keep the public safe. While I was a deputy Sheriff, I was amazed at how much of a reactionary force police are. Not just here, but all over the U. S. , Meaning no crime prevention. Just wait for something to happen, then react. My area police want people to call things in.



Might not turn out to be anything, or it might turn out to be one of the biggest dope dealers around. Might turn out to be someone with stolen property. Might turn out just to be a regular guy. If so, they nor the police will be too upset over the inconvenience of a couple questions. Look back on how most criminals are caught. Accidentally, not by good detective work. Someone calls in about something just not seeming quite right, then next thing you know they are finding bones under his crawl space. Nazi Germany was a whole different ball game. We have no laws that make not having your papers in order a punishable offense by execution on the spot, and the color of your eyes, skin, hair has no legal recourse here in the U. S. A. either.



A neighbor called in about his neighbor who keeps going out on his land late at night walking around (here in Indiana). The caller stated he hated to call considering the guy was a very well known doctor with alot of political and social ties in the community, and he didn't see anything criminal, BUT something was strange even though the Doc in question was a great neighbor. Long story short, cops show up, ask questions, everything is fine. Come back the next day to follow up and close it when they notice the stories had some inconstancies between the Docs recollection and his wife's. Not enough to be suspicious about, but strange none the less. They decide to do a few drive by's in the evening if they were in the neighborhood. Come to find out the Doc is homo, even though he is married to a drop dead gorgeous wife, gets young men from out of state, has his way with them, then kills them and buries them on his "ranch" among the several acres of trees. No need to say what the moral of this story is.



Back in the days of J. E. Hoover's F. B. I. , Hoover wanted to know everyone's business. He believed in an agent behind every mailbox in America. He would be irate if he found agents at the office. Didn't matter what you were there for. He wanted you out on the streets, at airports, truckstops, malls, bars, gyms... anyplace where people gathered so you would be able to spot the bad guys, and chase down leads to any criminal activity, because the bad guys are not going to camp out in front of the F. B. I. Office and come to you with evidence. We have gotten away from that, and you see the shape the FBI is in now. Things went smooth after Hoover died and all the people in charge were influenced directly by Hoover himself. Now we have new people, new guidelines, new politically correct steps that must be followed before an agent can act on his or others suspicions. Same with local police. Wait for something to happen, find the criminal and try to persuade him into ratting on someone else for something bigger. In return, you the bad guy only gets a slap on the wrist for turning someone else in, and you are free to go commit more crime after a week or two in jail and 1 year unsupervised probation. Things need stirred up. People need to be more alert, and the police need to do more door to door activities.



We use to have a couple cops in town who would randomly walk up to houses, knock and introduce themselves just to say hello and see if things were O. K. . They would hand them a card with their name and the departments phone number and request they call in anything suspicious. They would also ask if there was anything they could do for them at the moment. People loved it. They felt safe, even though crime was never a big issue. Then we got politically correct and told them they were not to talk to anyone unless they called in. Guess what? Crime slowly went up, the two mentioned cops retired, and people are screaming crime control... just dont inconvenience me with it. God knows I cant be interrupted to talk to some cop just because my dog keeps barking at something in the alley. I have more important thing to do, like watch the new fall season premiers. Until people get away from the current norm in America, nothing will change. From a cops point... if thousands of men can go to war and die for freedom, I can go out of my way to check on that barking dog. From a citizens point of view... . if thousands of men can go to war and die for freedom, I can go out of my way to allow a cop to ask me a few questions. After all. I am not the criminal. I have nothing to worry about other than a speeding ticket every now and then.

 

[Max340]

>Nazi Germany was a whole different ball game. We have no laws that make not having your papers in order a punishable offense by execution on the spot, and the color of your eyes, skin, hair has no legal recourse here in the U. S. A. either. <



Unfortunately, it was NOT a whole different ball game. In a system that encourages reporting any little thing, neighbor can be turned against neighbor. There were reports of Germans turning in their neighbor simply because the did not like them, or their eye color. They then found a flaw and made a big deal of it.



Given the current attitude of suffocating anything that has olive skin and black hair, it is NOT a stretch to see paperwork being issued to everyone. Further, its already being done to an extent, they call them passports and green cards, as well as drivers licenses.



Knowing your neighbor means figuring out that some of his habits are normal and spotting for the abnormality. Some are worried about over reaction, and reporting every little thing is exactly that. Coming from a town where there are two cops on duty at any given time, they do NOT need a constant stream of reports on minor infractions. As I said before, put some thought into it, then if it still seems out of place, call the cops. But don't waste their time on silly crap.



Work smarter, not harder. Increase your awareness, not your intolerance or suspicions. Don't look for a problem, look for the normal stuff. If its not there, THEN call the cops.

 

[Chad Sheets]

If you think America, right now this second, is the same ball game as Nazi Germany, then you better go find any history text book on the era and do some reading. I am sure my Grandfather and both my Great Uncles who fought the Nazi's would appreciate knowing America's current system is the same ball game as Nazi Germanys. So, is any society that has paid law enforcement who reacts to citizens complaints in the same league as Nazi Germany as well? I guess any country that has a system set up specifically for turning suspicious activity in is "Nazified"? C'mon.



That post is dead nuts on as far as everything else goes, couldn't have said it better myself, especially that last paragraph. However I will have to disagree and fall back on my earlier statement that what is going on now in America, and what was going on then in Nazi Germany is a whole different ball game. I dont even think the coincidences are on the same planet, let alone ball field.



After what has taken place, people should be suspicious, and I have yet to see any law enforcement agency make any pleas to the public to stop calling in suspicious activities. If you live in a town with two cops where everyone knows everyone's history, and they have lived there for 70 years, then why bother, like you said, know the norms, report the abnormal.



Unfortunately, not all of us live in a 2 cop town where doors stay unlocked and the setting is almost like Mayberry North Carolina. If you live in place where you see different people everyday, and you have no idea what the norm is for these people, you have to rely on your own judgment. Is this person acting funny at the bus terminal? Why? Should I be nervous about two Arabs renting a Ryder truck to NY? Why?



I use these two examples because they were both in the news here recently. The guys in the Ryder truck were from Afghanistan and were renting a Ryder truck in Southern Indiana to go to NY. The rental place called the Indiana State Police. All checked out fine, but I think everyone was relieved to know for a fact everything checked out fine rather than assume and let their imagination take over. Same with the bus stop. There was a guy acting different compared to everyone else. As more people started to take notice, someone called the police. Come to find out there was a warrant out for his arrest on child support charges, and he was leaving the state so he could skip out on the charges and the child support. If people would not have been "suspicious", this dirt bag would be in Arizona right now drinking iced tea while his kids went to school with old ratty torn cloths and a bread sandwich for lunch. If you have nothing to hide, dont sweat it. A few questions never hurt anyone.

 

[Crazy Horse]

THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS THREAD is because EVERYONE in this country needs to be more vigilant; where ever you are, where ever you go. To help deter future events from occurring like Sept. 11th. Everyone, not just law enforcement officials, has to be more observant of their surroundings to help keep Americans safe.

There is no correlation between this and Nazi Germany. Give me a break!

 

[Max340]

Originally posted by Crazy Horse

[BThere is no correlation between this and Nazi Germany. Give me a break! [/B]

Crazy Horse, thats absolutely wrong. Here are some parallels.



~Germany's Third Reich rose from a country that had been devastated by WW1.

~Our country has just had its first large scale attack on its mainland... devastation.



~Germany's Third Reich sought to increase the security of its citizens by allowing more police power and increasing limits on personal freedom.

~Our country now seeks to increase security by checking paperwork, limiting air travel, and investigating suspicious individuals.



~Germany's Third Reich had to pull the economy out of a deep depression.

~Our country not only was headed towards a recession, but has now suffered a larger drop in the economy than the Great Depression itself. We will now have to pull our economy out of a deep recession.



~Germany's Third Reich sought to improve the homeland by attacking and conquering countries outside its immediate influence.

~Our country now seeks to improve the homeland by attacking lands outside our immediate influence.



~The Third Reich was lead by a charasmatic leader who said what the masses wanted to hear.

~Our country now has a charasmatic leader saying what the masses want to hear.



The DIFFERENCE is, Bush and his Cabinet seem to have learned from history, and are not going about things the same exact way the Germans did in 1936-40. They are showing restraint and intelligence, rather than blind rage and revenge. I for one can now say that even if Bush is stupid, as I once thought, he did VERY well in selecting his Cabinet and other advisors. At this point, I am glad he did not select any of you. I am also glad I voted for him.



Chad, If you actually READ history, instead of assume you know it, the parallels show a situation ripe for misuse. The question is, are we a better society than Germany of the 30's? If I used only the reactions I read in here, I would be hard pressed to say we are. When I look at how the government, led by "W", is handling the situation, I have to say emphatically, YES.



Addressing the suspicious activity... . Should you question why two Arabs would rent a Ryder truck? Perhaps, but I doubt all Arabs are looking to blow up a building. Should you question a farmer who buys a bunch of diesel fuel and fertilizer? Seems innocent enough to me, needs to run his tractor to put the nutrients on his field. Or is HE the one blowing things up?? I bet a bunch of people on Oklahoma started looking pretty hard at the average white guy buying fuel and fertilizer a while back. Point is, just because it looks like trouble, doesn't mean it is.



If I reported every thing I saw in this town that looked odd, half my neighbors would have the cops bothering them every week. Its better to get out of the house and get to know the people around you than to sit behind the glass and watch and wait, looking for a reason to call the cops. I bet most of you don't know even half of the owners of adjoining properties, I know I don't. Its time to change that, not simply start calling the cops about everything.



KNOW your surroundings, don't just look around and assume something is amiss.

 

[DRR-24V]

Max, Max, Max,

When you run out of something intelligent to say, (which happened early in this thread) don't resort to DRIBBLE. ! Move to Iraq or Iran where you could be with like minded individuals.

 

[Crazy Horse]

340- All I have to say to you is:

You are really MISSING THE POINT and don't have a CLUE about survival instincts. Loose the German idea, it has nothing to do with looking out FOR your neighbor and America.

 

[merryman]

Hey Max---time for a cold shower!



Vaughn

 

[Max340]

Hey Don, never forget that adding nothing to say puts you on the list of idiots along with me, if thats where you place me.



Crazy Horse, survival instincts? Did the government suddenly collapse when we weren't looking? What ARE you talking about?



Merryman, I'll look into the temperature of my showers when some of the idiotic extremist reactions (that will portray us as EXACTLY what the terrorists say we are) are left behind. Perhaps a bunch of you need a cold shower, to cool that burning desire for revenge when decisive action is not only more appropriate but more productive as well.



Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Only problem is, I don't feel like repeating it with you folks. Thankfully, GWB feels the same way. Against the wishes of many of you, our President seems to be doing the right thing.

 

[Chad Sheets]

Against our wishes the President is doing the right thing? Who on this thread said anything about President Bush not doing the right thing? "Thankfully, GWB feels the same way" The same way as what... the same way as you do? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?



This thread has nothing to do with revenge. It has to do with being careful and knowing your surroundings. Every major news paper in America has reported over the last few days that the Government (FBI I take it since alot of the stories are straight from their daily press briefings) has evidence showing there was a plan in the works to poison office buildings, sporting events and public gathering places with blood agents mixed with oils to smear on door knobs (touch it, you die of lack of oxygen within hours before you are properly diagnosed), cyanide piped into air intakes on buildings, crop dusters used to spray biological and chemical agents into the air (FAA grounded all crop dusters from flying Sunday until they got a handle on things), known terrorist who were rounded up since the 11th have been caught with HazMat CDL's in their possession with detailed plans for putting toxins in the drinking water. The federal Government has ordered all water systems in America be under "heightened security". One terrorist being questioned said his "training camp" was working on plans to spray toxins into the food supply at stores across America.



This is real. Its not going away. These people are right. Be alert to your surroundings. The terrorist are not going to mess with any one specific person. They know we have the right to bear arms and have great access to various means of communications to law enforcement, so why take a chance. Go after something that cant shoot at you, or call you in like a waterworks system, a supermarket, a crowded building or a nuclear plant (they are all on heightened security with armed guards 24 hours a day now). We have never been at a point like this in our history. Better to take precautions now since the evidence is there. Either act on it now, or act on it later. Sometime however, we will all have to act on it like it or not in some way.

 

[Max340]

So what do you suggest Chad, do we wear SCUBA gear and full body contamination suits 24/7?



How is knowing ones surroundings going to prevent such a person from being close to us, when as you say, its already too late if they are that close?



I'll say it again, deporting all of one nationality is not a guarantee of safety. Reporting all incidents that do not appear just right is not a guarantee of safety.



Over reaction is as bad as no action. Fortunately, the government is not over reacting, but is taking each step as decisively as possible. A bunch of you, OTOH, are on the verge of paranoia. Something that I have grown to expect from certain members.



Flame away.

 

[Chad Sheets]

No point in "flaming away". No matter what the topic at hand is... terrorist, oil changes, torque wrenches, air filters, idle times on diesels... you always want to disagree with whatever 19 out of 20 people say. I have been on boards/news groups with you for over 3 years now, and it is always the same thing with your post.



Rarely is there a hint of "hey guys, I think thats a good idea, but what about this". No sir... . This is MAX340, you people need to read more, get higher educations, live better lives etc, be more like me because I am always right. The difference between you and the mojority of us is that you decide on something and ride it out regardless of what new information comes into play.



I'm half tempted to start a thread called "Is the World round" just to see how long it takes you to disagree with the people who reply "yes".

 

[Max340]

Once again, you resort to the personal insult, rather than well reasoned argument and fact filled proof.



Sorry if I don't simply follow the masses like a well trained sheep. I prefer to think.



Reading more and learning more is the only way to live life, to stop learning is to die.



The difference between me and most of you is thta I look at all the info BEFORE I decide on something, and I READ ALL of what a person says before I go shooting my mouth off accusing them of things they clearly did not say. Very few of you actually read all of my post, and the proof is in how you answer. You all think I don't condone violence, yet I explained clearly that not only do I condone it, I feel its a very useful tool.



But if all you can do is flame me, and complain about my words, rather than address the issue, youtr accusations fall rather squarely on yourself as the guilty party.



And by the way, any geographer, cartographer, or astronomer will tell you, the world is not perfectly round. It is slightly stretched at the equator, and over all distance in diameter is shorter from pole to pole than at the cross section on the equator. Maybe you SHOULD read more.

 

[Chad Sheets]

Perhaps you need to take some of your own advice and read more. No one said PERFECTLY round did they? Didn't think so. How's that for fact filled proof?



I guess you failed to look into the inf. before deciding to open mouth. Kind of like what you just accused us of doing... Max340 never does that or he would have let us know he is guilty of it sometimes.



To stop learning is to die No kidding. No one here has a problem with continued education in any form, at least I do not. The problem rest with you and your insisting that we all must be less educated since we think and say what we do. I have news for you: I have yet to see you bring any valuable knowledge to the table on diesel engines or Dodge trucks, which is what this TDR is primarily about. However when you make a call that is not right in any of the technical post, no one pops off about how much "holier than thou" they are compared to you. No arrogant retorts or anything, at least not that I have witnessed. I have seen people get pretty fed up with your insistence and more or less ignore you for a while.



Personal insult becomes a reasoned argument with you and your eagerness to look down on people because of their thoughts, ideas or suggestions.



Most of everything typed away by anyone here is nothing more than an opinion. Not everyone has to agree or disagree. Its just odd that the only time you show up is to disagree, and as stated by ME earlier, its never in a "well how about this idea guys" way. Your post on this thread tried to make it sound as if you and GWB himself were in cahoots, and you know all the insider stuff, therefore we are all a few steps below and behind you. Who are you trying to fool? You are not lecturing one of your classes full of naive kids like you use to brag about until everyone tired of hearing about it, and ignored you again. We are all adults, and we are all capable of making and changing our own minds. We dont really need your help to become what you conceive in your own mind as a better person. Should we ignore you? No, I shouldn't at least. You elevate my tolerance for people who like to tell others how to live their lives. I use to get upset by people like you. Now I just shake my head with the rest of the people and go on with my own life. If you think we are "way out there" with our thoughts, you need to get out more. Granted, not everyone is like us, but you can bet your a** there are more of us than there are of you... thank God for that.

 

[nps]

Originally posted by Chad Sheets

I have seen people get pretty fed up with your insistence and more or less ignore you for a while.

Chad,



I hear you. In fact yesterday I deleted all my posts off any thread that related to Mad Max because it troubles me to think I was actually debating with someone as either egotistically blinded or mentally deranged as Mad Max. What brought me to this conclusion was his defense of his comment that the US and Nazi Germany are similar - couldn't admit his brain disengaged from his fingers for a second and then remove his foot from his mouth but ACTUALLY DEFENDED THE COMMENT - geez give me a break.



Worked with a similar individual once - could never admit that he was wrong and the positions became more rigid and ridiculous as the hole he was digging got deeper. He reminds me of someone you see on the sports threads arguing why my team is better than your team.



He does make some good points, but as the First Sergeant used to say "one Oh Sh***er will wipe out 10 Attaboys". So until I can debate him in person and use some of my diplomacy 'tools', I've turned on the Mad Max ignore mode.



Peace and God Bless America

Neil

 

[John Berger]

Right on Chad

Freedom requires eternal vigilance, not Nazi tactics. Max if you like to disagree, that's fine. We live in a great country, the best that has ever existed, and you are allowed to do that. Were America like Nazi Germany, your reaction to those who are encouraging more vigilance in our daily routine would immediately have identified you as "different" and you would have been rounded up with the infamous knock on the door in the middle of the night. Your words contradict the very point you think the rest of us are missing. There is a big difference between being alert and being paranoid. What do you think self defense classes aimed at helping women prevent being raped emphasize? Don't look like a victim! Be aware of everything that is going on around you! Ever heard of Paxton Quigley and the book she wrote titled "Armed and Female"? If not, I highly recommend the following website. I read the book. Excellent discourse from a real woman.



http://www.paxtonquigley.com/