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© Copyright 2003, Jim Loy
After 9/11, the U.S. Congress decided that we should give up some of our rights, in order to be more secure against terrorism. They called this the USA Patriot Act. A patriot is of course someone who gives up something for his/her country. Traditionally however, a U.S. patriot is someone who gives up his/her security (even life) to gain or protect freedoms. And so, calling this act the "Patriot Act" is pure propaganda and an insult to our intelligence. Perhaps we need to give up rights to survive, which I doubt, but don't tell us that it is patriotism.
But we are just taking away the rights of foreign terrorists. You and I aren't terrorists; so we haven't lost anything. Well, it's not just foreigners, and it's actually suspected terrorists who lose rights, but you and I aren't suspected terrorists either. We're not even Muslims. Ah, you and I fear Muslims, well some Muslims, very few actually. But if the FBI says that this person is a terrorist, then let's take away his/her rights.
America is the land of freedom. It really is. But we have a sad history of denying freedoms to some helpless innocents. Our fear of Japan put thousands of innocent Japanese into prisons. Some of these innocent men died there, without ever seeing their families again. It was even said by one Congressman that the fact that none of them had committed any acts of sabotage was only evidence that they were planning such acts. We have done similar things, over and over, because of fear. We are too quick to give away someone else's rights.
A suspected terrorist should have rights, the right to an attorney, the right to know the charges against him/her, the right to a speedy trial by jury, all of the rights in the Constitution. Why not?
I guess the reason that we (and our government) don't want suspected criminals to have rights is that rights make it difficult to convict them of their crimes. If there is a lawyer present, they won't confess. If you don't imprison them without charge, they will flee while you're trying to figure out what crime they committed. And they will commit other crimes while they are out. But remember, these are innocent people, innocent until proven guilty. That's not just a cliche; it is a basic human right. "But we know he/she is guilty, even though we can't prove it." If you can't prove it, then you don't know.
Patriot Act? Sounds like Big Brother to me.
P. S.
What if this essay makes me a suspected terrorist? That thought was running through my mind as I wrote it. What if they (the U.S. government) investigate me? What if they take away my rights? How about my right to privacy? If they tap my phone, they will get to listen in on wrong numbers, mostly. And I have nothing to hide (except for a Victoria's Secret catalog and a few thoughts -- just kidding). But I value my privacy, and my other rights.
Am I afraid of my government? I had to think about that. To some extent, yes I am afraid of my government. If I flew more often, I would probably be more afraid of terrorists. I am afraid of people who hate me and who have automatic weapons. But I am also afraid of my government, and their occasional disregard for liberty and justice.