24 April 2009

God morning, I would like some protection against myself please...

My mother said this thing every time we left the house. She locked the door and said: I lock the door to keep my friends out because the enemy’s will get inside anyway. It took a while before I realized the meaning and the truth in that sentence. The funny thing with living on the countryside is that all your friends and close neighbours know where that extra key is hanging in the garage. So why did we even lock the door in the first place? Who and what are we protecting our self against every time we lock the car or house, hide our code to the bank account and erase the secret e-mails? I am fairly sure that the terrorist don’t want my car or poor bank account. So who or what are we so afraid of that we don’t trust the police anymore?


In a democratic country every person has a legal right to have a lawyer even though that person robbed, stole something from, raped or murdered an other human being. Democracy is also about feeling protected against those kinds of crimes. This is a matter where I can see a use in having cameras on a street corner, in a park or next to the ATM. The cameras can be a help for the police to investigate a crime. The problem with having cameras is that we sooner or later will have them all over to keep everyone safe, all the time, everywhere. So let’s just put them in the most crucial places, but where is that? If they should be there to keep people safe I guess we should make them as robots so they really could protect us in a more physical way. Because I’m afraid that the cameras want stop the person committing the crime from doing it. A camera ain’t that scary.


Someone, a lot of people or maybe everyone knowing what I have done, what I am doing and what I plan to do is for me a very scary thought and not even close to democracy. It is more like taking away everyone’s integrity. If there is a reason to investigate someone’s life I think that it is awesome to be able to see who he or she called, what time the person came to and left work and even test the persons DNA. Having a DNA base is something I believe in, because if I know I am innocent what do I have to be afraid of. But I don’t like the idea of being registered when I leave my bed, make a new friend or go to a party. I am ok with being registered doing official things like leaving the country, having a baby, making a phone call(as long as no one is recording it) or getting cash from a ATM.

If we are so eager to protect ourselves from everything that we fear we will end up protecting yourself against ourselves. It will be like an evil circle without any end. We will end up punishing ourselves and not the terrorist or however we are after. Democracy is not about knowing what everyone is doing all the time. Democracy is about understanding the background to people’s actions and for that we need to talk to each other.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Anna,
    I think you have written an interesting blog with a lot of things to thought about. It always interesting to read about other people´s thoughts even if we don´t really agree with them, isn´t it?

    Your first paragraph is very good. Especially I liked the first sentences about what your mother told you. There is something in that, which we have to think about. Your paragraphing is good with a blank line between the paragraphs.

    In the second paragraph I would like you to explain the word ATM. There are probably many persons who don´t know what it means...

    In paragraph 3 I don´t really understand your topic sentence. What do you mean with the word "someone" in the beginning of the sentence? Maybe you just could take this word away? And what do you mean in paragraph 4: protecting yourselves against ourselves.?Can you please explain it in other words?

    Your grammar is good, perhaps you should use some more linking devices.

    But in short, well done!

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  2. Täånk du Anna vad fort det går..det var tider när man var smal och snygg och fick gifta sig.
    Kram Lotta

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  3. Hi Miss Chatterbox!

    I always find your writing fun and very thoughtful. I think it shows how good and secure you are in english. I´m a bit of a fan ;)
    You write very well with a nice flow to the text, making it easy to follow. Great job!

    Your linking device works well and there is nothing to say about that.

    I got stuck with the third paragraph where the first sentence and one following were a bit long (and I´m a bit tired). My brain didn´t function there but I understood what you meant.

    Just two thoughts:
    "...from doing it." (it/so ?)
    "...however we are after" (whoever ?)

    Keep up the good work!
    Best wishes,
    Sofie Rönnqvist

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  4. Hello Anna

    Your text is interesting to read and you have many good thoughts about the issue. You are doing a good job in your writing.

    In your first paragraph I recognize my lifestyle in yours. I also live on the countryside and yes everyone knows where the key is. We lock our doors for the insurance company so they will give us compensation if we are robbed. Otherwise it doesn’t matter. Your last question here is good and relevant.

    In the end of the second paragraph you have the following writing “Because I’m afraid that the cameras want stop the person committing the crime from doing it.” I guess you mean “won’t” instead of “want”.

    I have read the other comments and I agree with them in most parts. I think though this blog would be even better if you tried to straiten up your thoughts and had a real topic sentence for each paragraph.

    Good luck with the last paragraph and the final exam
    Best regards
    Maria

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