freedom v. security
... over a month after Sept. 11th under the proclamation that it would help eliminate attacks against the United States. Even when details about the legislation’s blatant disregard for civil rights was revealed, America’s bruised psyche did not allow for much opposition. Following the declaration on the so-called “war on terrorism,” the Bush administration has time and again grabbed more power under the banner of protecting the country and we seem to go, “ok, do what you gotta do.” But how much freedom are we willing to give up? How do we know that the government will use its excessive powers in good faith? Not many people seem too concerned about these questions. Sept. 11th softened most Americans’ control of its government and that has contributed to its already apathetic approach to politics. Professor Richard Rose of the International Institute for Democratic and Electoral Assistance notes that "“...the fact that everyone has the right to vote is not sufficient enough to make a country democratic.” In 1972, 50% of eligible voters age 18 to 24 caste ballots. That number dropped to less than 20% in 1998. And when people don’t care, the government is pretty much left to do what it wants, especially in hard times. FDR set up internment camps during WWII with no opposition and LBJ was basically given a blank check with the Gulf of Tonkin resolution during the Vietnam War. And President Bush? He didn’t let history prove itself wrong, Nadin Hamoui can attest to that. In February 2002, 15 federal agents stormed the 21 year-old Syrian student’s suburban Seattle home as part of a post-Sept. 11 crackdown on Arab nationals living illegally in the U.S. In the chaos of the raid, Hamoui ran into one of the agents in the hallway. "He pulled his gun and put it right in the middle of my forehead,” said Hamoui. She and her mother were detained for nine months in a tiny room with cardboard taped over the only window. Her father, who ran a small market specializing in Middle Eastern foods, was released a month after mother and daughter. Hamoui and her family were lucky. Over 1,000 people are currently being held under the suspicion of possibly having a connection with someone who might have links to terrorists. These people have been labeled as “enemy combatants” and under the USA PATRIOT Act, can be held indefinitely without being charged with a crime and have no legal counsel or contact with family members. I don’t know about you, but I think this is a blatant violation of many civil rights. And our willingness to give up our rights? It has only intensified the Bush administration’s arrogance. Does anyone know how the government will use its powers? Are we willing to allow our private e-mails to be read? Our phones to be tapped without a court order? Our homes to be broken into and guns held to ...