Homegrown terrorism act = Thought Police = Big Brother | Seven Generational Ruminations

Homegrown terrorism act = Thought Police = Big Brother Seven Generational Ruminations

I was really surprised to see Senator Collins co-sponsor this bill in the senate. She has leaned toward the side of civil rights in the past. This bill does include some safeguards but judging by the way our federal government acts, often in contempt of the Constitution, I would not bank on those safeguards preventing abuse of this act. I always worry about the rather broad interpretations the federal government comes up with to put someone under the umbrella of promoting dangerous ideas.

The fact the the bill passed the house with an overwhelming majority without debate is a little disturbing.

Americans Are Sheep

Andrew Napolitano speaks about Americans as sheep on Fox news. You know where I stand on civil rights. I think Americans are sheep as Napolitano suggests. Americans blindly trust the government rhetoric and surrender civil liberties without discussion, a fight, or even a care really.

Innocent Until Proven Guilty?

It all started with Rush Limbaugh saying innocent until proven guilty is for the courts he doesn't have to follow it. Then there were people like Nancy Grace ready to execute anyone in her path before court. In the aftermath of September 11th, the Constitution was somehow buried in the rubble along side the thousands of victims. People used to hold out judgement and carefully listen and weigh out both sides of an argument. Innocent until proven guilty meant something outside of the courtroom. We as Americans viewed ourselves as a superior culture because we had the freest society. We had something to brag about.

But now we have a culture of quick reaction, quick judgement, and even quicker execution. What is the result of our quick action without weighing the consequences? We get poor laws passed like the Patriot Act. We pass laws to take the thinking and thought process out of decision making. We jump gung-ho into a war in Iraq based on fictional accounts rather than factual accounts of the situation. We tolerate the blatant disregard of our Constitution by our intelligence networks. We believe what we want to hear. We see what we want to see, and that is seldom where the truth lies. We pass laws that limit our public discourse and we create a culture where opposing views are seen as impediments rather than pillars.

Take a deep breath America. In your fast paced society where every moment is filled with something, your survival into the next century depends on preserving a few quiet reflective moments. When did we begin looking at the Constitution as if it were a souvenir?

Rights Are Optional

Donald Vance filed a lawsuit for being held without due process in Iraq. That's typical treatment for non US citizens suspected of terrorism, but apparently it is now becoming quite acceptable treatment of US citizens overseas.

After being held for 3 months in solitary confinement without any kind of due process he was dropped off at the Iraq airport without apology.

This incident took place in Iraq and it seems to only be a matter of time before US citizens begin to disappear for months on end without due process. All in the name of defending against "terrorism". How can we defend against a system that is designed to have no checks, no due process, and no accountablility?

As we fight this war in Iraq to bring "freedom" to the people there, we seem to view our own freedom as a necessary causualty in the war on terror.

link to Chicago Tribune article

Flag Burning

I cringe a little when I see protesters burning the American flag in this country. I don't think things are so bad that this kind of statement should be made. It also hurts those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

That said, the fact that someone can burn the flag as a political statement is proof of the great freedom we have in this country. I don't know why so many people, when they see the flag being burned rush to try to get such actions banned. They cannot bear the burden that needs to be carried if we are to continue to have such a free society. As Franklin said, those who would give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

The United States flag is like the phoenix. It rises from it's own ashes as an even stronger symbol of our freedom. Those who burn the flag as a statement in this country are only making fools of themselves because such action would land them in jail in other countries. That we respect freedom above all else only proves how great our nation is.

We need stronger citizens willing to defend liberty. The price for freedom is blood. It only takes a few fools to trade that freedom away. We should not make important decisions when we are overcharged with emotion. It only takes a moment of weakness to trade away our personal liberties. Once they are gone, they are gone for good. Freedom has always been paid in blood.

As a side note here is a link to a cnn article about a town that the display of all foreign flags. Pathetic!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/20/navarrette.flag/index.html