Sealed With A Kiss By Mike (in Tokyo) Rogers
(2011-01-01 at 18:14:52 )

Sealed With A Kiss By Mike (in Tokyo) Rogers

What does modern North Korea, 1600 ~ 1853 Imperial Japan and the USA have
in common? Those governments try to support failing systems by cutting
their people off from the foreign influence. It is called, in Japanese,
Sakoku. Sakoku means something like isolation from the outside.

In North Korea, if they catch you trying to escape, they execute you.
Imperial Japan did the same thing. How much longer until the USA tries
this? Laugh now but the situation there is getting more absurd by the
minute.

People from the outside of the USA can not send you regular mail in many
cases anymore.

Americans have lost their freedoms and their country. How much longer
will they tolerate what has happened to them? How much farther will they
allow their government to invade on their privacy in order to give them
"security"?

Considering all the recent uproar about police brutality to TSA groping,
I wonder, how many more of these mini cancers will be needed to
accumulate before the entire system collapses?

Now, unbeknownst to most Americans, I am sure, people outside of the USA
can no longer mail you packages if that package weighs more than 1 pound
(453 grams). That is the total weight including packaging. One pound is
not very heavy.

My seven-year-old son just received a beautiful electronic building set
for his birthday from a girl who is his seven-year-old friend in Arizona.
My son loves it. With that set, you can build all sorts of electrical
projects; lights, on-off switches, fans, you-name-it. The set is high
quality. That, and the book she sent him, was easily over one pound.

Too bad he is unable to repay the favor.

Of course, we try to teach our son manners and kindness; if you wish to
receive mail, you write mail. If you get a present, you must write back
thanks. To receive, you must give.

In this case, Christmas is coming up and so he felt it was best to give a
present back to his friend who sent the birthday present.
Quite understandable and I agree.

Since my son is only seven and has no job, it is up to dad and mom to
finance such operations as buying gifts and we are happy to do so when
the occasion seems right. I took my son shopping and he chose some Hello
Kitty items and a book for his seven-year-old girlfriend.

We wrapped the packages and took them to the post off ice to send to the
USA this morning. Alas, while at the post off ice, we were told that the
US Department of Homeland Security has stated that there can be no more
mailing of packages that weigh over 1 pound unless we can provide the
Social Security number of the recipient.

Bravo! Homeland Security! I am so pleased to see you on the front line
of Americas safety! One can never be too careful you know.

Always be proactive to make sure kids do not run, jump and have fun as
they might hurt themselves. And never, but never, go into the swimming
pool until you have learned to swim. So I applaud your caution.

But, darn it if I do not have a few simple questions:

In what manner shall I inquire to this little seven-year-old girls father
about this young ladies Social Security number? If the father asks,
"Why?" How shall I explain that we (Homeland Security and I) are working
together to protect her freedom by invading her privacy? And from whom
are we protecting her? Are we protecting her from an over-weight
Hello Kitty?

Also, I am not sure, but I do think something like a Social Security
number like this is private information, is it not? Are not people
running around these days involved in identity thefts that are sniffing
for that sort of information?

How does making an arbitrary limit of one pound stop anyone from sending
dangerous materials?

Also, how does providing you with a Social Security number relate to
protecting people from terrorists?

Hmmm I have been thinking about this and figure that I must be just too
dumb to see.

Oh, and my final question to Homeland Security:

If my seven-year-old sends the envelop to his seven-year-old girlfriend,
sealed with a kiss, will that require extra postage or a DNA check?

November 30, 2010

Mike (in Tokyo) Rogers was born and raised in the USA and moved to Japan
in 1984. He is the president of an Internet & Cross Media advertising
marketing agency and a media production company named Universal Vision.
He writes about marketing, the Internet and Social Media at the Modern
Marketing Japan blog. His book, Schizophrenic in Japan, went on sale
in 2005.

Copyright © 2010 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or
in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.