Dept. of Homeland Security Intended to "Perform Differently"

[Cronus Protagonist]

I came across this little gem at

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/mcpocg/1geninfo/dhsseal.htm

It's Ridges explanation of the new seal he had made - check out the part in bold. Apparently, this new department is not going to operate like a traditional department, so much so that it needed to be put into the formation of its seal to ensure that this important facet of the Department of Homeland Security is entrenched forever.

I wonder why?

+++
R 191924Z JUN 03 ZUI ASN-A00170000165 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-CV//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05700//
ALCOAST 296/03
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL SEAL
1. TODAY, SECRETARY TOM RIDGE UNVEILED THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THIS IS AN HISTORIC OCCASION AND FORMALLY PROVIDES A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS).
2. THE SEAL WAS DESIGNED TO BE SYMBOLIC OF THE NEW DEPARTMENTS MISSION: TO PREVENT TERRORIST ATTACKS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES REDUCE AMERICANS VULNERABILITY TO TERRORISM AND MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE AND RECOVER FROM THE ATTACKS THAT DO OCCUR. IN THE CENTER OF THE SEAL, A GRAPHICALLY STYLED WHITE AMERICAN EAGLE APPEARS IN A CIRCULAR BLUE FIELD. THE EAGLES OUTSTRETCHED WINGS BREAK THROUGH AN INNER RED RING INTO AN OUTER WHITE RING THAT CONTAINS THE WORDS "U.S. DEPARTMENT OF" IN THE TOP HALF AND "HOMELAND SECURITY" IN THE BOTTOM HALF IN A CIRCULAR PLACEMENT. THE EAGLES WINGS BREAK THROUGH THE INNER CIRCLE INTO THE OUTER RING TO SUGGEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WILL BREAK THROUGH TRADITIONAL BUREAUCRACY AND PERFORM GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS DIFFERENTLY. IN THE TRADITION OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, THE EAGLES LEFT CLAW HOLDS AN OLIVE BRANCH WITH 13 LEAVES AND 13 SEEDS WHILE THE RIGHT CLAW GRASPS 13 ARROWS. CENTERED ON THE EAGLES BREAST IS A SHIELD DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS CONTAINING ELEMENTS THAT REPRESENT THE AMERICAN HOMELAND - AIR, LAND, AND SEA. THE TOP ELEMENT, A DARK BLUE SKY, CONTAINS 22 STARS REPRESENTING THE ORIGINAL 22 ENTITIES THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FORM THE DEPARTMENT. THE LEFT SHIELD ELEMENT CONTAINS WHITE MOUNTAINS BEHIND A GREEN PLAIN UNDERNEATH A LIGHT BLUE SKY. THE RIGHT SHIELD ELEMENT CONTAINS FOUR WAVE SHAPES REPRESENTING THE OCEANS ALTERNATING LIGHT AND DARK BLUE SEPARATED BY WHITE LINES.
3. AS A DHS AGENCY, THE COAST GUARD WILL PROUDLY DISPLAY THIS SYMBOL. OFFICIAL DEPARTMENTAL GUIDANCE CONCERNING THE AUTHORIZED USE OF THE DHS SEAL ON SIGNAGE, CORRESPONDENCE, WEB APPLICATIONS, ETC., IS FORTHCOMING. UNTIL SUCH TIME, UNITS SHOULD REMOVE ALL PREVIOUS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REFERENCES FROM EXTERIOR
SIGNAGE WHEN THEY CAN DO SO WITHOUT CAUSING UNSIGHTLY DAMAGE.
4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING ORDERING SOURCES FOR THE NEW SEAL DECALS, AS WELL AS DISPLAY INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. IN THE MEANTIME THE DHS SEAL CAN BE VIEWED AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/NEWS/CGNEWS.SHTM.
5. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
6. VICE ADMIRAL T. J. BARRETT, VICE COMMANDANT, SENDS.
BT
NNNN


"Lick Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[aquart]

1. That man doesn't have a damn thing to do all day, does he?

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Apparently not

I think once a week he throws a dart at his color scheme, and that's on the days that he's not told what color to make it and when.

"Lick Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[izzie]

3. Ego

n/t

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. If you mean false hopes, I do hope that's the case

But what if the intention is to pair up with FEMA and create a police state at the next LIHOP/MIHOP scenario? Sends chills down my spine.

"Lick Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[RainDog]

5. This is particularly disturbing

THE EAGLES WINGS BREAK THROUGH THE INNER CIRCLE INTO THE OUTER RING TO SUGGEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WILL BREAK THROUGH

*TRADITIONAL BUREAUCRACY*

AND PERFORM GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS DIFFERENTLY. IN THE TRADITION OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, THE EAGLES LEFT CLAW HOLDS AN OLIVE BRANCH WITH 13 LEAVES AND 13 SEEDS WHILE THE RIGHT CLAW GRASPS 13 ARROWS. CENTERED ON THE EAGLES BREAST IS A SHIELD DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS CONTAINING ELEMENTS THAT REPRESENT THE AMERICAN HOMELAND -
AIR, LAND, AND SEA.

In propaganda terms, and in real terms, I find this part really disturbing. What the repukes call bureaucracy is and was the separation of powers which was central to the founders conception of democracy...the checks and balances that counter attempts at tyranny.

With a breakdown in checks and balances, also occuring in the patriot acts, Bush has accrued more and more power to the executive branch at the expense of the legislative branch, and, at the same time, denied the checks of the bill of rights, that "bureaucratic" (i.e. democratic) idea that the people need protection against abuses of the govt.

Our entire government is founded on the principle of protection from tyranny by the majority or even a minority which organizes to gain control by abuse of power.

This is the Bush legacy.

That any American supports this, and that the legislature has allowed this is a disgrace.