# Lewis' "It Can't Happen Here" and now **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 10, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824 "2003-09-10T19:35:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824/41 "2003-09-19T00:19:08Z")
Since one literature reference has already been amply shredded as not applicable, here’s another. Anybody remember James Thurber’s “Get-Ready” Man? This was a guy who used to pop up at public events during Thurber’s childhood, bellowing: _GET READY!!! GET READY!!! **THE WORRR-ULLLLD IS COMING TO AN END!!!** _ This apparently was entertaining, in small doses. But almost no one took the Get-Ready Man seriously. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824/42 "2003-09-19T00:37:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\*Just for perspective - > > The Boston Globe (and several others) reported today the grand total of times the Patriot Act has been used to search library and business records. > > Zero. > > If Ashcroft is really so avid to rip away our civil rights, he better get cracking. It’s been almost two years. > > Regards, > Shodan \*\* Are you aware that one of the provision of the Patriot Act is that if a library has their records searched, it’s illegal for them to report this fact? spanna]quote]of course nobody is going to agree to becoming a fascist state if that is the question they are asked. [/quote] Actually, the Nazi Party was rather open about its intent to overthrow the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824/43 "2003-09-19T00:41:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jackmannii \* > \*\*Battling erosion of basic freedoms occurring for various reasons (war, fear of Communism etc.) is a repetitive theme in American history, and not something that leaped onto the radar screen with the advent of the Bush Administration. A new, more severe terrorist attack will threaten to further erode those freedoms, as occurred previously in wartime, then abated as outside threats were conquered. > > The Chicken Littles who are now crying wolf (to mix fairytale metaphors) will be ignored altogether if they can’t learn to distinguish reality from hysterical overreaction. \*\* Yes, some people overreact to what are relatively minor infringements of civil liberties. OTOH, if we do not battle those infringements as they occur, the danger of further erosions occurring in the future grows. “Eternal vigilance” and all that. To continue one of your metaphors, it may be premature to run around shouting that the sky is falling, but it never hurts to keep an eye on the sky if only to avoid those falling acorns. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824/44 "2003-09-19T00:57:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyrate \* > \*\*Yes, some people overreact to what are relatively minor infringements of civil liberties. OTOH, if we do not battle those infringements as they occur, the danger of further erosions occurring in the future grows. “Eternal vigilance” and all that. > > To continue one of your metaphors, it may be premature to run around shouting that the sky is falling, but it never hurts to keep an eye on the sky if only to avoid those falling acorns. \*\* We agree. Even if the part about the acorns is a bit weird. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824/45 "2003-09-19T00:59:45Z")
Isn’t that the start of the story – Chicken Little gets hit on the head by a falling acorn, and concludes the sky is falling? It’s been a few decades since I’ve read it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824/46 "2003-09-19T01:07:50Z")
Yes, but the falling of the acorn is a natural and even beneficent event, whereas John Ashcroft… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-it-cant-happen-here-and-now/200824.md?page=2)