NSA Loves Kids.....
>>The NSA and Kids....
Mike Hudack
Editor-in-Chief
They were visiting the Web site daily. Every day they downloaded all the new files and left. Who were they? The National Security Agency. The NSA was created in the fifties with a mandate to read other nations' mail and keep our mail from being read. Since then they've moved into computer security in addition to their original cryptology.
Curious, I sent an e-mail to the registered custodian of the address visiting the site. It must have been referred around the mulberry bush because someone else answered. "Do you know about our college programs?" this new person asked... I didn't.
Apparently the NSA actively recruits students in high school (only local to Fort Meade) and college. The NSA employee asked for my address and received it.
About two weeks later I received a hand-addressed manila envelope (which has been broadcast on CNN) containing a series of glossy recruitment brochures touting an "opportunity the brightest students cannot afford to miss."
They had no idea about my academic qualifications when they told me about the program -- or at least I didn't tell them. My academic credentials are, however, quite good with the exception of attendance.
About a week after I received the brochures I received another e-mail from this NSA employee who I was now recognizing as a recruiting officer. He told me that I could "definately get into the program," and that I would be able to go to "any college [I] want," suggesting they could get me into the colleges.
Since then he's e-mailed me almost weekly asking if I've applied.
This happened to me almost half a year ago now, and I've since spoken to others who have been the subject of recruiting efforts. One teenager told me "they were very enthusiastic. Kept telling me how I could get paid for going to college... They sounded like the Army." And well they should -- they are part of the Department of Defense.
The offer is pretty simple, and anyone can apply. If you plan to study computer science, electrical or computer engineering, mathematics or language in college, the NSA will allow you to apply. You must have at least a 1200 on your SATs and a 3.0 GPA. In return for four years of college, a salary, room and board, you must work for NSA for five years post-graduation.
Most of the people the NSA is targetting in this recruiting program seem to have problems with the idea. Most, including me, disagree with the NSA's cryptology policies (read: key escrow and export limitations). Likewise, however, the opportunity is certainly an amazing one.
Related Links:
National Security Agency
NSA Names Schools
OSAll BBSystem>>
All I can say is....interesting.
This could shape up to be 1775-1776 all over again.
Someone, somewhere, sometime in our National Government is making policy which potentially could affect my privacy.
They are using MY tax dollars to recruit teenagers to design programs and systems which could affect MY freedom.
So, just in the past week or so of investigating this concern we've uncovered the following:
1) CESA - Cyberspace Electronic Security Act - which wants to give our federal government new powers to tap information in, on and beyond my PC.
2) An FCC mandate giving the FBI massive new powers to tap my analog and digital cellular comings and goings.
3) The existence of Project Echelon, a massive secret agency located in England - run by the NSA - which is designed and funded to monitor ALL worldwide IP communications - Internet, wireless, satellite, etc.
4) More about Microsoft's support behind these initiatives.
5) NSA hiring technology literate teenagers and promising FREE college tuition and 5 years of guaranteed employment if they support these initiatives.
I failed to mention the Intel chip which is still out there.
Am I the only one connecting the DOTs?
Or has fear already set in?
If their motives are not pure, the government could somehow plan to use data and information against us.
In a free country, each of us has a right to ask questions, contact our elected officials and share our concerns. It's one thing to "be represented." It's quite another thing for your representative to actually know what's going on inside Washington.
The Executive Branch of our government is to administer the laws that are passed down from Congress in ways which protect and honor our Constitutional Rights.
Our system is supposed to provide "checks and balances" in this process between the Executive, Congressional and Judicial branches of government.
Corruption CAN set in only if ONE branch decides to conduct policy without representation. This means ACTIONS are taken which may not reflect the "will of the people". And the only way this process can continue is if "the people" don't care or are not made aware of what's going on.
The Internet poses a massive threat to governments which are led by individuals who don't want free and open communication. The only way to combat this threat is by subverting the forces of freedom: in this case through an expansion of powers into monitoring, accessing, factoring, storing and controlling data and information.
Why would our National Government want this information?
What are they going to use it for?
What is their motive?
What is being threatened?
Here's the bottom line:
In a virtual world of open communications SERVICE energy - helping and serving others - thrives.
SERVICE energy threatens negative energy that's designed to take from others, feed off others or hurt others. When we are collectively "doing unto others as we would have them do unto us" we unleash a positive nuclear-like reaction for good which radiates throughout the world. We are reaching out and helping our fellow man. We are sharing ideas which may change perspectives which may uplift people. We are caring, listening, helping, serving, loving.
And this, my friends, IS what's driving the IP Revolution.
FREEDOM - it's the same threat which England viewed when we began to speak independently and openly about right vs. wrong, truth and justice.
FREEDOM - it's the same threat our National Government seems to view when we begin the process of glimpsing into the incredibly expansive future which this new virtual world could have in store for us all.
For we are defining NEW boundaries of space and time and thought.
We are discovering NEW worlds of thought to populate.
We are finding NEW ways to "transform" data and information into things/perspectives which have MORE meaning which create more positive energy which encourage more people to open up, share, extend, cooperate, collaborate and serve others.
We are all right at the threshold of gaining NEW knowledge which could enable dynamic, explosive NEW growth for individuals in particular and mankind in general.
But looking at the current landscape, we have some last gasp attempts at maintaining and controlling power through the collection and maintenance of inert DATA and INFORMATION which could be used against us in some way shape or form.
All for what?
Why is mankind trying to resist, control and limit this next step from happening?
What's going to be lost?
What's going to be gained?
The virtual genie of FREEDOM is out of the bottle. We have already populated new virtual shores. We have begun to develop community. And these communities are gathering influence. Metamediares composed of empowered individuals and organizations - eHubs - WILL be the next wave.
Just look at Oprah - she's formed her own Metamediary from a TV foundation which now extends to books, tapes and to outreach programs throughout the world.
The question remains. Do we understand what's going on here? Are we to all just sit back and act passively and be silent? Or will this "new energy" find a stake, a cause, a purpose to rally around?
TIME and TRUST - it's still the LAST frontier.
Ask yourself, who/what/when/where/how/why does some thing/person/entity earn your TIME and TRUST?
If you can answer this question you can feel good about your current "state."
If you have trouble answering this question then there is something that's blocking/restricting the gift of your TIME and TRUST from being shared with others in a balanced way.
I'm less sure today than I was yesterday about whether our National Government has earned my TIME and TRUST.
I think it's TIME they earned our TRUST.
Peace.
GO!!!
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