Homeland Security System Fails the “Sincerity” Test

The much-maligned Homeland Security Advisory System of color-coded alter levels, took another hit in a nationally published parody in Flak Magazine (http://www.flakmag.com), an independent, ad-free ezine. In an article titled, “Homeland Sincerity Advisory System,” the familiar color codes refer not to levels of terrorist threats, but to “threats to the truth.” The article, by Norman Levin, is featured, appropriately, in the ezine’s “Rejected!” section.

San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) July 3, 2003 -maligned Homeland Security Advisory System of color-

coded alter levels, took another hit in a nationally published parody in Flak Magazine (http://www.flakmag.com), an independent, ad-free ezine. In an article titled, “Homeland Sincerity Advisory System,” the familiar color codes refer not to levels of terrorist threats, but to “threats to the truth.” The article, by Norman Levin, is featured, appropriately, in the ezine’s “Rejected!” section.

In war, the truth is the first casualty and the war on terror is no exception, states Levin. He writes that in order “To prepare the American people for all contingencies, we're announcing the Homeland Sincerity Advisory System. This five-tiered, color-coded system will alert you when the information you receive, whether from the government or the media, is worth trusting.” The listing includes some “suggested protective measures you can take for that comforting, but false, sense of sincerity.”

The five escalating threats to the truth conditions range from Green – “Everyday Lies,” Blue – “Little Fibs,” Yellow – “Whoppers,” Orange – “Crying Wolf,” and Red – “Sky is Falling.” Each threat level is illustrated with examples of warning signs, such as this one for Orange alert: “President Bush, co-piloting a revamped space shuttle, docks with the International Space Station to thank astronauts for their heroism.”

Among the “protective measures” listed are, “Turn off PDAs and cell phones; reformat your hard drive. Stock up on surgical gloves and rubbing alcohol.”

Norman Levin is a business communications consultant (http://www.theprg.com) in San Rafael, Calif. and a wanna-be freelance writer. His articles have been rejected by numerous national publications, but occasionally “one or two slip by the editors,” he said.

Flack Magazine was founded on the back of a placemat, in 1998, by James Norton, Nick Coleman and Benjamin Fowler. It has evolved into a non-comprehensive guide to everything.

The magazine, which attracts up to 80,000 readers a month exists to take “the raw creativity of strong writers and temper it with good sense, good taste and the spirit of responsible journalism.” Flak Magazine earns no money — its team is unpaid, working day jobs or going to school in San Francisco, Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Madison, WI.

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CONTACT: Norman Levin, The PR Group

             415-499-1403

             norm@theprg.com