While Americans sat glued to our media and viewed the sugar-coated/mind-controlling version of what was happening in Iraq, The USA Patriot Act which in 2001 stripped away several Constitutional privacy restraints was being quietly extended to forever take control over the American people. The Patriot Act Two is part of the continued destruction of the most important and brilliant documents ever created. The United States Constitution needs to be defended in order to keep the freedoms of this country alive.
The erosion of our rights is now under way with the Patriot Act Two, otherwise known as the “Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003.” This act puts our civil liberties, personal privacy, and several amendments listed in the Bill of Rights into jeopardy. This bill allows the federal government to arrest a person based only upon a ‘suspicion’ that they ‘might’ be ‘connected’ to a terrorist group. They could simply be taken from their home, off the street, or from their place of employment and be imprisoned indefinitely. They would not even be able to tell any family or friends that they have been arrested. They would not be granted bail until their tribunal. They could also be shipped off to another country, stripped of their citizenship and all without being formally charged with any crime. It also gives authorities the ‘right’ to enter your home without your knowledge and go into your computer and personal belongings without even having to tell you they were there, and without a search warrant. This directly violates the 4th Amendment.
There would also be a database of DNA of all suspected terrorists, or anyone who happens to fall into this obscure category, that would be forced upon the person, possibly at gunpoint to give a blood and hair sample all without being found guilty of anything. This would allow for a “Big Brother” type of surveillance on anyone, at any time, anywhere. Terrorism can be fought without violating our rights. The recent revelations about the many mistakes that took place with regards to innocent people being on death row should alert us to the fact that a secretive Government could also make ‘mistakes’.
Every American has the power to stop the violations of our civil rights and to stop a police state and Big Brother type of Government. Congress must not accept new legislation that threatens our constitutional rights. We can be safe without giving up the most important things we have for our freedom, which are found in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Please write Senators Boxer and Feinstein today and also our Representative Henry Waxman. Ask them to block any efforts to pass this.
If you feel that there is no way this Patriot Act Two could affect you, think again. It is in our hands to take back control of our democracy, which these days seems to be only a democracy by name. Please tell them you are strongly opposed to the Patriot Act Two and its proposed extensions and amendments by Chairman Hatch and that you wish for the United States Constitution to be upheld and respected. Please tell them that you are not willing to give up your rights in order to gain a false sense of security. President Thomas Jefferson said it so well, “Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” Don’t be afraid to speak up. What good is our freedom of speech if we are afraid to use it?
Alethea Guthrie