Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

This letter is being sent to all of the major newspapers in the nation. I write this not as an American citizen, but as an American expatriate. I was born and raised in California, and have left the country only for brief periods of travel and a semester in college while studying in Argentina. However, I have now left the United States never to return.

My current situation began with my web log (“blog”). I wrote a humorous post regarding the use of frying pans as weapons, and from there on continually alluded to it with my friends, via the internet. Because the internet is public domain, there is no limit to how many people would see it. At the time I was unconcerned, as the idea was clearly meant as a joke. However, word spread to the government and I was taken in for questioning. According to my file, I was a threat to national security.

After several straight days of interrogation by the FBI, it was made apparent that I have never in my life hit anyone with a frying pan, even by accident. Unfortunately, the powers that be were still dissatisfied with my status as a free citizen. They knew that legally they could not imprison me for what I had written, thanks to the 1^st amendment of the Constitution, so they deemed it necessary to restrict my rights. The action taken to “combat the national threat” was to ensure that I did not have access to my weapons. The government successfully removed all frying pans in my possession and sent out a national alert to dissuade me from purchasing more. In effect, I have lost the ability to prepare any type of pan-fried food. If I want this food, I must either go to a restaurant (where I am kept safely away from the kitchen) or have a friend prepare the food and bring it to me at my home.

This is an inconvenience not only for me, but for anyone that comes in contact with me. The penalties for allowing me to get near a frying pan are so great that nobody will risk it. I have lost contact with many friends and family members because they do to wish to be put at risk.

Besides the inconvenience, I am outraged at the principle of the thing. I used to take pride in a country where freedom of speech was not only permitted, but encouraged. However, the current administration has beyond proven that they are willing to bend the rules to achieve their objectives. It has also come to note that these “objectives” do not necessarily match the objectives of the nation which they are supposed to be serving.

Because of this, I have willingly given up my citizenship of the United States of America. For now I will travel Europe until I find a government more suited to my needs for a home; one where I may use the cooking utensils of my choice. I am not sure if I will return after the end of the current administration’s term. My faith in the democratic process has been shaken, and I am not positive it can be easily restored. If such a thing could happen once, it can most definitely happen again. The way has been paved for a new war – not a war on terror as is claimed, but a war on the citizens and their freedom.