Who's a Terrorist?

After the events of September 11, 2001 former President George W BushPresident George W Bush had Americans seeing terrorists under every rock. He employed laws and draconian edicts that would have made Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin smile with sadistic glee.

Because of laws passed during the Bush administration tourism all along the northern US/Canadian border has dropped dramatically in an attempt to stop "terrorists" that are already here.

And now police officials have released a list of "suspicious behaviour" that they say will mark someone who is a terrorist. The list includes:
If you smell chemicals or other fumes - hair salons routinely have numerous smells coming from them, a freshly painted building gives off some rather obnoxious fumes, and there are some stogies that could be considered rather nasty in odor.

Someone wearing clothes that are too big or heavy for the season - homeless people have been known to wear whatever they can find or everything they own creating several layers, and who is to say what is too heavy for a season because some people are affected differently in various seasons.

Strangers asking about building security - stranger to who? Do you know everyone who lives or works in your area?

Someone purchasing supplies or equipment that could be used to make bombs - Does this mean that the next time I go to buy my cleaning supplies a nosey store clerk can report me? Science types know all kinds of ways to make use of chemicals but the average person would not and for those of us who were fans of MacGyver we learned simple household items could be used for making all kinds of devices.

Recently officials told workers in stadiums and the like to keep an eye out for terrorists. Just exactly does a terrorist look like - the local "oh, he's not like me person"?

Joseph Stalin is smiling broadly from his grave!