May 11th, 2011: Deadline for Second Coming of Christ or Real ID?

5-11 Campaign unconnected to 2011 Christian prognostication 

At the beginning of the year the Associated Press published news of a Christian affinity group predicting May 11th, 2011 will initiate the second coming of Jesus Christ.  

As that is a signal of salvation to some; a Silicon Valley blogger is facing a critical national identity deadline on the same date.  Sheila Dean, associated with the 5-11 Campaign and BeatTheChip.org, hardly believes that a DHS license compliance deadline is worthy of the four horses of the apocalypse. Although, she claims there are similar trials and tribulations projected towards the 2011 Christian Judgement Day. 

“I have read about wait lines and license delays leading people to cry out to Jesus Christ. Barcodes and holographic laminates are hardly a reason to continue funding a national ID card program.”

Dean maintains a sense of humor, in spite of federal driver license regulations, or benchmarks, adopted at motor vehicle divisions.  Compliance with federal regulations continued long after the law was declared dead by DHS Secretary Napolitano in 2009.  This is viewed as a success by some neo-conservative lobbies who believe federalized licenses will stop illegal migration and domestic terrorism.   

Some Christians believe Real ID and its benchmarks to be closely associated with “The Mark of The Beast,” depicted in end time prophecies.   Specifically, the use of radio frequency identity chips and a universal enumeration system.  Dean concedes that there is real potential for data surveillance in maintaining the law.

According to contemporary Christian rapture legends and prophecies, “the dead in Christ shall rise” around May 11th this year.  Dean will simply continue to keep an eye out for appropriations towards the undead law. 

“I think right now people should be more concerned over biometrics in terms of employment, the centralized databases or the use of drivers licenses as internal passports. The rules in the Real ID Act still give broad powers to DHS to determine what a national identity article is used for.” 

On May 11th 2011, Dean predicts that DHS will declare all States to be “in compliance” with the Real ID Act. This is based on actions of former DHS Secretary, Michael Chertoff.  States who refused compliance by 2008 deadlines were automatically issued compliance extensions.     

Others will be preparing to meet with Jesus.   

Until then, Dean will be urging all short-timers on planet Earth to ask their Congressional leaders to defund or repeal the Real ID Act.