Political persecution

I can't take it anymore. I want asylum from the US. I'm tired of the political persecution. I'm tired of:

being shouted down whenever I voice opposition to the wars;
being searched 5 times per flight when I travel;
being denied entry to Canada because my arrest record has false shit and the courts won't remove it because it's "traffic related" or whatever BS excuse they could find;
being treated like shit for being Muslim via marriage;
living under the threat of my home being invaded by the DEA if I get the medical marijuana my doctor authorized;
living with the stigma of a medical condition;
being labeled a domestic terrorist for sympathizing with OWS, anonymous, wikileaks, freemen, etc;
getting fired for using Linux(yes that has happened to me several times);
being denied basic human rights like healthcare, legal representation, etc because I'm poor and refuse to play the money game;
being labeled a terrorist for sympathizing with anarchism;
being labeled a terrorist for sympathizing with communism;

I mean DAMN! Whose shit list am I on and how do I get off? I left the US for 4 years and had no problems whatsoever with the police, the gov't, the people, my beliefs. I come back to the US and it's all persecution all day every day. The only way to avoid it is to NEVER leave my house. Even when I go outside to work in the yard I have to wonder why helicopters and small aircraft ALWAYS fly over when I go outside.

I sympathise with you Whyte Horse. I don't know what to say, but I do sympathise ...

Things didn't get that bad before the way to get out presented itself to me. Then, having briefly returned to the US, I had the pleasure of seeing/living the first year after 9/11 -- and was discouraged by what I saw. And that was even in a university where people are supposed to know how to think (except for MBAs of course).

I left the Empire and do not look back. One Jedi cannot do much. Try to shine a light in darkness that oppressive, and all you end up doing is multiplying the shadows.

Any democracy runs the risk of becoming the tyranny of the majority. It is only a risk, but still ...

But if we all flee who will be there to change things for the better?

There are many things wrong with our government (MANY) but there are ways to change it. All it takes is for the people to stand together and cooperate. Vote, get involved in small town politics...because really, changes in the little places are the what will change our country. And it can be done. People just need to wake up and see their power...because we really do have all the power.

One Jedi can do a lot.

It was easier when $ didn't equal 'free speech' (rather ironically). sure, on Jedi can do a lot. But 2 billionairres named Koch can almost buy the election for the highest elected office in the land, thus influencing far more on a national level than any two Jedi.

And that is but one blatant example. My personal one is a little experiment I performed during election season last year. I had had registered as a lobbyist after forming a Political Action Committee (PAC), but I didn't mention that in a short letter I sent to each of my elected representative at higher than city level. I identified myself as a constituent in there voting area, stated a non-controversial opinion on a topic and asked for a response. That's all. All the letters were uniform in their content.

I received one reply. One, out of maybe 12 or 13 letters. And it wasn't even from the politicianit was addressed to. It was from his chief of staff, who basically complimented my experiment and wished me luck. I couldn't get a response, even from my elected representatives, because I was not a (stated) lobbyist or other big money donor.

It was sick and infuriating, that our government was so blatantly for sale to the highest bidder.

Thank you all for your replies. I'm actually surprised that only 3 people posted.

What were you expecting people to say?

Personally its difficult to comment as I am not in America, nor have I ever lived there, but I do disagree with a lot of its politics so I do sympathize with your situation. The unfortunate thing about standing up for your beliefs is that you will often be faced with opposition, ridicule or persecution. That is the point at which you decide whether standing up is worth the price you might pay.

However I don't think that some of the things you've mentioned on your list are personal persecution or targeting of you specifically, so its difficult to know how to respond, especially as it seems like you just needed to get if off your chest. I doubt anyone here can offer you a solution to any of these apart from, leave the country.

Brenna wrote: I doubt anyone here can offer you a solution to any of these apart from, leave the country.

that isnt a solution. that is fleeing one set of problems to enter another, new and mostly different set.

the horse and i feel similarly, in that it seems he is sensitive, perhaps overly so, to the injustices present in this country, now and forever. but here's the thing: i have been to over 20 different countries in my life, spent a significant amount of time (as a civilian) in two where i was able to get a feel for the culture and laws and so forth. there were problems, as large, obvious and maddening, in those countries as there were here.

i liked them. i intend to return to both. but neither are MY country. i was born here. i have worn its uniform proudly. and my mother came here, not knowing a word of english, at the age of 15. she left her family and all she ever knew to make a better life for herself and her eventual children. she returned to her home country last year for a few months (i watched her houseplants while she was away). she said that it was heartbreaking. the poverty, the way los indios are still marginalized, despite one being elected president (but you know what they say about power corrupting...and it didnt take him long). the sanitation, or lack thereof. the poor health care system. when i was there last a few years ago, i watched my grandfather slowly die in an un-airconditioned hospital bed in a small dark room with 3 other patients. it was his family's job to feed him and largely care for him. this was the best that my family could afford for him. im not sure if better care even exists; i didnt see it.

my point being, this is OUR country too, we disposessed and dis-satisfied. better to stay here, and fight the devil you DO know than run to another in which you may or may not be satisfied.

Desolous wrote: It was easier when $ didn't equal 'free speech' (rather ironically). sure, on Jedi can do a lot. But 2 billionairres named Koch can almost buy the election for the highest elected office in the land, thus influencing far more on a national level than any two Jedi.

And that is but one blatant example. My personal one is a little experiment I performed during election season last year. I had had registered as a lobbyist after forming a Political Action Committee (PAC), but I didn't mention that in a short letter I sent to each of my elected representative at higher than city level. I identified myself as a constituent in there voting area, stated a non-controversial opinion on a topic and asked for a response. That's all. All the letters were uniform in their content.

I received one reply. One, out of maybe 12 or 13 letters. And it wasn't even from the politicianit was addressed to. It was from his chief of staff, who basically complimented my experiment and wished me luck. I couldn't get a response, even from my elected representatives, because I was not a (stated) lobbyist or other big money donor.

It was sick and infuriating, that our government was so blatantly for sale to the highest bidder.

I'm surprised they didn't write you back. Hmm, I guess it just depends on the person. I write my representatives all the time (We have 3) and I always get a response...maybe not the one I want, but they do write back...or their flunkies do. However, I do suspect that one of them actually write his own letters :ohmy: which is pretty cool...though not enough to win a vote.

But as for the $ aspect, when you get involved locally you can change things and move forward to bigger positions. The problem, it seems, is finding people who can't be bought. Also, $ doesn't always win. We had a few large companies try and push things through in our last election to gain money from the tax payers, but you know what? They didn't pass. The only stinky company that got through was Ford (ugh!!!) and that was an issue that the public wasn't allowed to vote on. Now we're working on getting new people in those positions.

Even getting into City Council (no matter how small the town is) can help change people's lives for the better.

But, I feel like I'm preaching to the choir so I'll stop. lol

Wendaline wrote:

Desolous wrote: It was easier when $ didn't equal 'free speech' (rather ironically). sure, on Jedi can do a lot. But 2 billionairres named Koch can almost buy the election for the highest elected office in the land, thus influencing far more on a national level than any two Jedi.

And that is but one blatant example. My personal one is a little experiment I performed during election season last year. I had had registered as a lobbyist after forming a Political Action Committee (PAC), but I didn't mention that in a short letter I sent to each of my elected representative at higher than city level. I identified myself as a constituent in there voting area, stated a non-controversial opinion on a topic and asked for a response. That's all. All the letters were uniform in their content.

I received one reply. One, out of maybe 12 or 13 letters. And it wasn't even from the politicianit was addressed to. It was from his chief of staff, who basically complimented my experiment and wished me luck. I couldn't get a response, even from my elected representatives, because I was not a (stated) lobbyist or other big money donor.

It was sick and infuriating, that our government was so blatantly for sale to the highest bidder.

I'm surprised they didn't write you back. Hmm, I guess it just depends on the person. I write my representatives all the time (We have 3) and I always get a response...maybe not the one I want, but they do write back...or their flunkies do. However, I do suspect that one of them actually write his own letters :ohmy: which is pretty cool...though not enough to win a vote.

But as for the $ aspect, when you get involved locally you can change things and move forward to bigger positions. The problem, it seems, is finding people who can't be bought. Also, $ doesn't always win. We had a few large companies try and push things through in our last election to gain money from the tax payers, but you know what? They didn't pass. The only stinky company that got through was Ford (ugh!!!) and that was an issue that the public wasn't allowed to vote on. Now we're working on getting new people in those positions.

Even getting into City Council (no matter how small the town is) can help change people's lives for the better.

But, I feel like I'm preaching to the choir so I'll stop. lol

you are preaching to the choir somewhat. however, to return to the $ question, there is no 'cant be bought' if you 'cant be elected'.

'In congressional races in 2010, the candidate who spent the most won 85 percent of the House races and 83 percent of the Senate races.'

that is not democracy. that is pay to play. that is men and women raising millions of dollars for a position that pays at most $400,000 a year (that is the presidents). you have to ask yourself why, ultimately. and i just dont feel like it actually is out of the goodness of their hearts, or desire for change, or whatever other bs is spouted on the campaign trail, especially when most leve office with millions more in investment income, cushy lobbyist jobs lined up, etc. but they all know their lines. we have pollsters now that now how to spin particular sentences, create buzzwords, specifically to manipulate a group of people to think positively or negatively on a particular position or candidate.

this is so far from what the founding fathers had in mind, jefferson must be spinning in his grave.

sure, this $ effect is not as pronounced at the city level. but even there, it comes down more to name recognition than anything else, and that is usually who can afford the most advertising.

I sympathize with you too Horse. I dont think there really is one thing we can do, we just have to stand up for what we believe in and never back down.

It is hard for me to find a job and even function in society because I am a felon. I have two felonies on my record for growing marijuana and attempted distribution. I live in Colorado too, so this is where it gets tricky. I believe that no man has the right to tell another what he/she can or cannot do, as long as you are not causing harm to another. Ive always believed this. I also strongly feel that marijuana helps many people out, and that is why I like the plant so much. I didnt care if it was illegal, because in my eyes that is wrong. My state has medical marijuana now, and it is even the first state to legalize recreational use. But I am still a felon because I stood up for what I believed in before you were allowed to. Do I regret my past choices? Hell no. I am not, nor will I ever, let someone tell me what is right or wrong. I will make that decision for myself.

Standing up for what is right is hard. It WILL cause you hardship, there is no question about that. All you can do is be who you are and stand up for what you believe. Hardships/suffering help us become better people, and in the end isnt that what matters? This reminds me of a quote from a Buddhist monk;

"When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world."

Baby steps. It gets frustrating trying to change something so big.

Oh yeah, and ironically I cannot work in the medical marijuana industry because of my felony record lol. I am hoping I will be able to in the recreational since we havent set the laws yet, but I am not holding my breath.