Ten years from now the people of the United States may look back in regret that -- as modern Martin Niemoellers -- they failed to "speak up," while there was still time. Here is how we might prevent it.
Become a Niemoeller 2006.
Our President wants to hear us speak. He wants so intensely to know what we are saying that he told the National Security Agency to record trillions of our phone calls.
President Bush must have a good reason for wanting to hear our voices. Isn't it too bad he has to spend so much money to get the job done? Let us cooperate with him. Make the White House a party to at least one of your phone calls each day. Here is how to do it.
Call the White House every day. The phone numbers listed below reach the White House. Switch phone numbers each day. There are two kinds of calls you can make. The simple way is to connect with the person at the White House and say, "I respect our President, and I understand he has gone to a lot of expense to record my voice on the telephone. I want to save the government money. Can I help save money by telling you to ask me any question you want to ask? What do you want to know about me? How about my husband/wife? Do you have any concerns about my children?"
The second way to have an impact can be done if you have two phone lines. Connect with a friend of yours. Make believe you are having a business conversation. Then conference in the White House. Tell him or her, "I am having a conversation with Mr./Ms Business Associate. We want to save the NSA some money. Could you record our conversatin for us please? We want to be sure we do not offend the President. If he thinks we are terrorists, we want him to know how to find us." Then insist that the call taker write down your name and phone number. You don't want your name to be on record? No problem. Tell the White House your name is Niemoeller. They will get the message.
These numbers connect with the White House:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
If you are an attorney, you are likely yelling a big "Woops," right now. You believe a coordinated effort of this type would be actionable as "technological terrorism." Maybe you are right. But if you are correct, how would you categorize the actions of the NSA?
We have a choice. We can speak out now, or we can tell future generations we regret remaining silent. It's only a phone call a day. Will you speak or will you spend years in sorrow?
Richard Palmquist, May 2006
