I have two things that must be said about this. There are actually more, but let’s start with these two very important ones. 1) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and 2) 1984 by George Orwell. Remember these books? I certainly do. I remember thinking how could anyone live with someone watching your every move. Today with more and more people who seem to decide that their way is the right way, and it doesn’t matter as long as I am not caught.
This brings up the rationale for wanting security cameras in public places. The question has been asked if security cameras be required in all public places? I say no, because I live in the United States of America the land of the free, the home of the brave. Someone might argue the point “What has living in the USA have to do with cameras being in public places.” I feel sure it has much to do with those cameras. I was taught that we had the freedom to choose between right and wrong. I was taught that we were innocent until proven guilty. The other day I watched the 1935 version of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. One of the scenes in the courtroom stood out to me. The judge said, “In this court you are guilty until proven innocent.” Does that make the camera the perfect witness for the prosecution? Then also it can be said of the defense that the camera can too be a wittiness. Doesn’t make life easier with or without the cameras.
Let’s ask ourselves what ever happened to honesty. Honesty, integrity, and dignity has been lost in our society. We the human race have forgotten this attributes. If we could go back to educating our young, our young adult, and our middle aged folks these three characteristics we wouldn’t need to worry about having cameras or not having cameras. If necessary re-read those two novels that were mentioned above. You can check them out at your local library.
I for one do not want big brother watching me. I want the freedom to be able to go about in this world without fear of having my government act in some sort of communist way. Look at China. These folks are governed by the government with little to no freedoms. What if we let the cameras into the public places, and then we decide to require them on the street corners, aimed at every house. Does that sound like the good ‘ol USA? Not to me it doesn’t. Let us return to being honest with dignity and integrity, and the camera issue will die.