WASHINGTON - Firefighters in major cities are being trained to take on a new role as lookouts for terrorism, raising concerns of eroding their standing as American icons and infringing on people’s privacy.
Unlike police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel don’t need warrants to access hundreds of thousands of homes and buildings each year, putting them in a position to spot behavior that could indicate terrorist activity or planning.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans have given up some of their privacy rights in an effort to prevent future strikes.
The American Civil Liberties Union says using firefighters to gather intelligence is another step in that direction.
for example, they are told to be alert for a person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States
“It’s the evolution of the fire service,” said Bob Khan, the fire chief in Phoenix
Advocates of the fire service’s intelligence role say privacy will not be violated
This movie is a personal favorite of mine. Though hardcore movie enthusiasts have snubbed me for liking so much what is considered "Truffaut's worst work". Nevertheless, I always enjoyed Ray Bradbury books during my formative years. Aside from the massive plot-hole (more like a chasm) of how a fireman - or anyone - is at all literate in Bradbury's vision of the future, the story has always intrigued me
Taglines for: Aflame with the excitement and emotions of tomorrow! What if you had no right to read?
Plot summary for: From the Ray Bradbury novel, Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature that paper will burst into flame. Oskar Werner plays a fireman who does not put out fires, but who searches out books and burns them. Books make people unhappy. In a parody of social correctness, all discordant strains are removed. The world is a lonely one of separate people in which Werner begins to read the books before burning them. Written by John Vogel
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