One man’s tropical paradise is another man’s prison. Imagine being
“stuck” on Oahu. I’m sure you could think of worse situations, but really
stop and think about the following true and evolving situation. You’re a
“normal” 34 year-old guy, live on the U.S. mainland in Gulfport,
Mississippi, and recently married a woman who is a lieutenant in the U.S.
Navy stationed in Okinawa.
You’re a citizen of the United States and possess a valid U.S. issued
passport. You’re not a criminal and have no history of felony or misdemeanor
convictions. In fact, you recently passed a background check to own and
carry a firearm in Mississippi. You are, however, an outspoken patriot for
the United States Constitution.
You miss your bride of eight months, and decide to fly to Okinawa to visit
her. Because you are the “dependent” of an active duty member of the U.S.
military, you make arrangements to fly from San Francisco to Okinawa on a
military aircraft. You must still have a ticket, pass the screening
procedures similar or even more stringent than those flying on normal
commercial airlines. After the screening at the airport, you board the plane
and settle in for your flight, counting down the hours until you are
reunited with your wife.
The plane lands in Hawaii as scheduled for refueling and maintenance. It
is here, after re-boarding the aircraft, that two heavily-armed military
guards confront you and tell you that you must leave the plane. They take
you to a small room at the military base and advise you that you are on the
U.S. “No-Fly” list. You’re not under arrest, but you’re not free to go
until they decide what to do with you. You watch as your plane, as well as
your hopes of seeing your bride vanish into the air while under the careful
watch of two heavily armed military police officials.
What’s going on?
As you sit in a small room, thoughts race through your mind. Why am I here?
It must be some mistake. I’ve committed no crime. Like any “normal”
American, You expect the matter to be resolved as there must be some mix-up.
Then, an official with the Customs and Border Enforcement arrives and tells
you that there is no mix-up. The official rattles off your name, date of
birth, social security number and complete identifying information. It’s you
alright, and you are officially on the “No-Fly” list.
“How did you get on that plane?” asks the Customs and Border Enforcement
official. You reply that you had a normal ticket, passed through the
screening process and boarded the plane normally and without incident. You
are told that you should not have been permitted to fly. Again, you are on
the “No-Fly” list. You reply that there has to be a mistake, and are met
with the stern reply of the official: there is no mistake.
You then ask why you are on the “No-Fly” list and are told that you are not
permitted to know. At this point, they tell you that you are free to go, but
you cannot fly anywhere by orders of the United States government. And there
you are, in “paradise” but unable to leave.
Meet Wade Hicks, Jr
The above events took place on October 14, 2012. The victim in this case is
one Wade Hicks, Jr., 34, a U.S. citizen and resident of Gulfport,
Mississippi. I personally checked him out and verified his story. With his
permission, I conducted a “basic” background check of Mr. Hicks, Jr. He has
no criminal record. He is not a “wanted” man. By all normal and visible
accounts, Mr. Hicks, Jr. appears to be a law abiding member of society.
I
did find, however, that he is an outspoken “patriot” and openly critical of
the NDAA. He is a former talk-show host of a small, local radio station
known for its “patriotic bias.” He is a member of “Patriots for
America” and
the Mississippi Preparedness Project. He is openly vocal about the erosion
of our rights - and it certainly looks like he has been proven correct. Is
that now a crime worthy of being denied the ability to travel freely within
the United States?
Mr. Hicks detailed his plight on Monday’s edition of The Hagmann & Hagmann
Report to a shocked and disbelieving audience. How can this happen in
America? This is inter-STATE travel! There must be some mistake! Has he done
anything to let his elected representatives know? The questions were many,
and yes, Mr. Hicks, Jr. indeed pleaded for assistance from his elected
officials and anyone who would listen during the last 36 hours.
“I’ve got
nothing to hide,” stated Mr. Hicks. Nothing. “I feel like a prisoner in my
own country, but no one will tell me what I’ve done to be placed on the
‘No-Fly’ list. I’m not allowed to know.”
Although I’m tempted to insert a reference to “Gilligan’s Island,” I will
refrain. If all of the facts presently known withstand more intense scrutiny
and further investigation, we have a very big problem in this country. You
might be next, and Hawaii might not be where you are inexplicably left on
your own.
I am following the fate of Mr. Hicks and continue to search for a logical
explanation. At this point, however, the only logical explanation I’ve found
is a very disturbing one. Perhaps this is how it all starts. Stay tuned
"For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness.... Therefore take up
the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand..." Ephesians 6:10-14
|
