Observations in Atlanta

[PrisonerOfHope]

I drove to Atlanta today, and the first thing I noticed was all along the Interstate in Georgia there were messages on those signs they have on the highway - you know, the ones where they have lights that spell out traffic delays or whatever. The messages were all along the lines of, "September is preparedness month - get ready for anything," "Be prepared for the unexpected," etc. Odd.

At a bus/MARTA stop there was a sign from the Department of Homeland Security, saying that for "security" reasons (yeah, right), officers had the "right" to inspect anyone's purses or bags or anything they were carrying.

If you want to go to the Georgia Aquarium, a security guard will go through your purse. My pepper spray was confiscated; they told me I could pick it up on the way out.

There was a free concert in Centennial Park, where the 1996 Olympics were held. Not a name group or anything....just some locals. At ever entrance to the park were tables with guards where purses and bags were searched.

To the best of my knowledge, there has been no threat to Atlanta of any kind....so why the security? (I noticed some of these things over the last few months as well.)

Welcome to Amerika!

[baydoll]

They 'say' it's because of security but in reality it isn't about security at all...it's about THEM CONTROLLING US while TAKING AWAY OUR PRIVACY. The stupid sheeple are being 'led' (or MISled I should say) to believe and 'think' this is for our own good and that the government LOVES us and wants to keep us SAFE from all those evil terrorists. And according to the media (who knows whats best for us, of course) they're not Muslims because Muslims are peaceful loving folk who are widely and unfairly misunderstood. ( excuse me while I go throw up. ) It's those Christians and Jews and conservative folk (all those opposed to Obama) that are the real evil ones that the world needs to get rid of. They are the true terrorists.

Like sheep to the slaughter.

[popcorn]

Yep, it is really happening fast! wowy

[baydoll]

Yes it is! In a way I'm like YAY!! Finally! Let's get this show on the road!! But then I see all those around me who are perishing. Not going to be a fun ride in the days ahead for them at all.

They're going to need our prayers more than ever.

[PrisonerOfHope]

I don't think there's a single person who won't have a chance to accept the Lord...after all, He's perfectly just and fair, and no one will have any excuses or be able to say they didn't know.

This is how the Holy Spirit led me to pray for those I love who are left behind: "Please don't let them be taken in by the deception, but let them know and understand what happened, let them know what they have to do, and give them the courage and the grace to do it."

[PrisonerOfHope]

I went back to Atlanta and got some pictures this time.

This sign is at the bus and subway stations.



The MARTA subways are beautiful - clean, fast, and efficient. There are electronic signs in all the subway stations that tell you how long it is until the next train at the bottom, and on the main part the messages go through a rotation. The one before this said "We're concerned about your safety." After this was one that informed people that there were special blue & white phones in the station to contact the police, and the next after that gave a special shortened number to be used with certain cell carriers so people could report on their fellow citizens.

If you can't see the lettering too well, this sign basically tells people to report any suspicious activity or packages.

This picture was taken at rush hour when the subway was really crowded; I was waiting for someone to say something. If they had, I was going to tell them I just wanted to take some pictures of the lovely MARTA subway system so I could show my friends from NYC how nice it is, especially compared to NYC transit - the signs telling how long it is until the next train really are a good idea. Fortunately, no one said anything or seemed to take any notice of me.





This one is from a busy thoroughfare - Piedmont Ave. Ever go down a block multiple times, looking for an address, especially at night? Or go round the block a few times to kill time while waiting for someone? How about people who live on this street and go back and forth on short errands? Well, all those things are apparently now against the law.

[PrisonerOfHope]

I went back to Atlanta after not having been there for several months, and it's obvious that Big Sister has become even more intrusive.

Not only are there lots of posters on the MARTA stations, buses, and trains that advise, "If you see something, say something," but announcements with the same message are made frequently on the subway stations.

Many of the subway cars (at least one per train) had a message painted on their sides in 2' high letters, offering up to $2,000 for tips leading to a criminal's arrest.

Somehow, all these things led to my feeling far less safe...

[baydoll]

That's pretty much the same way here in DC.

[PrisonerOfHope]

What gets me is the "efficiency" of these government employees.

I had to go to the courthouse building, because the PO lost the renewal stickers for my license plate, and the replacement was lost as well, so they said I had to pick them up in person. (Needless to say, although I called to make sure I was going to the right office, they told me I had to go to the other one - so they're remailing them - again.)

Anyway, I knew I'd have to go through a metal detector, and put my purse through X-ray, so I tried to remember to detach the pepper spray that's PROMINENTLY VISIBLE as it's hooked to the handle of my purse. Of course, I didn't remember until I got in the building, and my car was parked a few blocks away, so I expected they'd hold it.

The guards never even noticed...

[baydoll]

Just goes to show it's all a bunch of hogwash.