As the National Security Agency has gained in power the power of the Bill of Rights has lessened. The Patriot Act, The Military Commissions Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Modernization Act have all had a hand in taking away basic rights of Americans.
Some may question if anyone can even tell if those rights have been removed and for most people it’s not a “issue” but if you are affected it’s no small thing.
The Bill Of Rights wasn’t written for some it was written for all but today’s government doesn’t honour that value. Without a battle common everyday people have lost many of the personal freedoms that they had when they were born. It’s almost as if a bloodless coup came and went without a whimper.
The changes in the air are not only far from slight, but they are ominous in view of what another current Supreme Court justice, Anthony Kennedy, has warned: “The Constitution needs renewal and understanding each generation, or else it’s not going to last.”
The right to speak freely your point of view has slowly been changed. Many have been arrested as they peacefully gathered to protest the current war.
Three were arrested as they read the names of those lost in the Iraq war during a peaceful protest. Fr. Jerry Zawada is no stranger to the jail cell because of his protesting Fort Huachuca practices.
90 year old Lillain Wiloughby was arrested for protesting the war in Iraq. Since July 17th it is illegal to protest the war in Iraq.
Simple pleasures like going to the library have changed. It’s still an easy task of reading and checking out the books you want. Do note though your reading pleasures are being monitored. Thank you Patriotic Act.
To understand how some of this happened you have to revisit the congress right after the attacks of 9/11. On October 26, 2001 in the wake of terror the House was given a 342 page document that General John Ashcroft insisted was needed and the speed was crucial. Few had or took the chance to read the entire document and several commented later that parts of it seemed unconstitutional. The key thing here though is that the House approved it by a vote of 356 to 56.
dissenter David Obey of Wisconsin said bitterly, “Why should we care? It’s only the Constitution.”
Are there answers to bring back the freedoms lost? Do you miss them? Do you even care?
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