REDACTION. This is a word that has been “highlighted” over the last several days. Before we start getting all frustrated and angered, let’s all take a moment and realize that we all practice the art of REDACTION. You might ask, “Well how do I do that? I’ve never redacted anything!” Be careful about what you say or what you think, until you have carefully considered all the possible ways that you may have been involved in any form of REDACTION.
In this day and age, we all are concerned with the potential for identity theft, especially the theft of our own information. We do not want nefarious people to gain access to our personal information. Criminals can take that information about us and use it to steal our money, our credit, and even our reputation. So, we will ask a simple question. “How do you prevent this from happening?”
Here are several ways you may take action to prevent the theft of your personal information. You probably use passwords for account access, or even to get into your phone, computer, tablet, or laptop. You probably will blackout your private information on any document you have before you throw it away. You may even shred those documents. You may have a safe deposit box, or even a personal safe at home, where you store important documents. You probably keep a close tab on your purse or wallet when you are out shopping, not leaving those things ever out of your sight, if not out of your personal touch. You may take added safety precautions when alone at night when away from you house while with personal items, maybe by parking in lighted areas, or where there are many other people, and you probably avoid dark alleys in sketchy parts of the town in which you live. You may also enlist the aid of a professional theft protection service to add an additional layer safety. You may have items at home, or maybe you work in places, that use a fingerprint or even a retinal scanner in order to provide access. You might even be wealthy enough to hire a security service, not just home cameras, but maybe personnel as well. We are sure there are many other methods to protect your personal identity and items, but we have only listed some of the obvious ones.
If you have used any of the methods above, you have either knowingly, or unknowingly, participated in a form of REDACTION. Merriam-Webster’s definition includes the words “to reduce” (from the Latin verb “redigere”). When you use any of those methods above, you are in fact “reducing” the chance for personal fraud or theft. For most of us, we do not even think twice about taking these personal precautions, because our motives are designed to protect us, our families, our possessions, our wealth, and even our reputations.
Now we need to consider motive. For most of us, it is fairly simple to answer, as it is a matter of protecting everything we deem valuable. Our motive is simple self-preservation. When we move to the realm of the REDACTION of political and legal documents, we always hear the words, “to protect sources and methods”. Those words are more frequently used as a “CYA” (Cover You Ass) maneuver. We know this to be true once the full unredacted documents are revealed. If you believe your government is totally transparent, and never tries to deceive or hide facts and truths, then you are either void of a brain, or have lived under a very large rock for all of your life. Often, for those in power, their primary goal unfortunately is to maintain their power and preeminence at whatever cost, sacrificing transparency, truth, honesty, and morality, and in the process lose credibility, reliability, integrity, and fidelity. In their attempt to retain power, they knowingly and willingly demean not only themselves, and their official positions and organizations, but also our Nation’s standing in the affairs of the world.
SOURCES – When REDACTION takes place, careful observers must question “what sources”. Are they legitimate sources? Are they truthful sources? Are they biased sources? Are they sources with only a political agenda? Are they even sources, or is it just a word to cover illegal or crooked agendas?
METHODS – When REDACTON takes place, once again the careful observer must question “what methods”. Are they legitimate methods? Are the legal methods? Are the methods used consistent with written or well-established directives or policies? Are these methods used outside the flow of normal and expected Constitutional procedures and processes?
While the average American assumes these SOURCES and METHODS are hidden from view to protect our Nation and its people, unfortunately this is often not the prime reason for the declaration of this phrase, “to protect sources and methods”. What we will declare, based on the past history of our politics in general, is that the SOURCES and METHODS are used more to protect individual anonymity from illegal or criminal prosecution, or professional destruction, and to preserve the power of the current government. Whenever we hear that phrase “to protect sources and methods”, your “red flag” should pop up and you should be on notice that all is not well in the land of Oz. There is something being hidden, something someone or some group does not want you to see, and that vital information, often the truth, is hidden behind the curtain of secrecy.
If you treasure your FREEDOM and LIBERTY as much as we do at FREEDOMGOFORTH.COM, then you need to be on alert, and do everything in your power to reveal the truth. Your calls to those in positions of authority and power have more influence than you think, and your right to vote should never be shunned or discouraged. Only you, as a legitimate citizen of our Nation, have the ultimate power to preserve and protect our great country, the United States of America.