Civil Liberties have been some of the first casualties in the war on terrorism.
Unfortunately, many Americans have stated that they are willing to give up some of their liberties in order to step-up the war against terrorism. While the government claims they need to have the power to root out terrorism, it is important to beware any legislation that oversteps the lines drawn by the Constitution. In 2002 U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft expressed the desire to expand the FBI's wiretapping powers; to include churches, political organizations, grassroots activists, and others... Many Americans are justifiably concerned and opposed to the fraudulently-misnamed 'Patriot' Act. In 2003, Ashcroft received his wish with the passage of DSEA 2003, a.k.a. 'Patriot II'.
Ashcroft has said, "We will respect the rights of political freedom and religious freedom, and we are deeply committed to that. But for so-called terrorists to gather over themselves some robe of clericism ... and claim immunity from being observed, people who hijack a religion and make out of it an implement of war will not be free from our interest."
Limits on the FBI's surveillance powers were imposed in the 1970s after the death of J. Edgar Hoover, who used the Bureau to spy on civil rights, anti-war activists, and other political dissenters. The new rules disallowed undercover agents in churches, synagogues or mosques unless there was a 'probable cause or evidence' that someone in them had broken the law.
The Fourth amendment to the Constitution was written specifically as a safeguard against tyrannical, centralized government:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
This administration has repeatedly expressed an attitude of working to protect America from terrorism while safeguarding American rights and then does the exact opposite. While it is possible that the current administration may have exercised some sort of restraint so as not to excite the overwhelming opposition of the people, future administrations may not. Because of this, we must consider just how much tyranny we are prepared to accept. If we reject the idea of being enslaved, we then must consider at which point the cost of compliance exceeds the price of freedom, and act accordingly.
"Knowing that intercessory prayer is the mightiest weapon and the supreme call for all Christians today, I pleadingly ask our people everywhere to pray. Believing that prayer is our greatest contribution that our people can make in this critical hour. I humbly urge that we take time to pray... To really pray."
- Robert E. Lee, 1864
What is disturbing me more and more with each passing day, month, and year is the pace at which the erosion of Liberty is proceeding. If we are to retain our birthright of freedom for which we are entitled by the mere act of drawing oxygen, then we must deliberate at which point we as a people will reject tyranny and whether we are prepared for the events concurrent to such a turning point.
Indeed America is reaching a turning point. Hardly ever in the history of mankind has a people been as unfree as America is today. Only in the depths of Communist Russia or in Nazi Germany has the tyranny been greater, but we discount the actual loss of freedom because of the contrast between the velvet glove laid upon America now versus the iron fist that crushed Germany or Russia in the previous century. I weep for America because we are almost at that turning point where people will have to choose between being slaves and being free... and I know that a majority will chose to be slaves in a gilded cage because they neither have the will or the means to resist. These people, in fact, have already been enslaved.
In this bogus "war on terrorism", we have already lost far too much. How many Rights did we lose? Let me count the ways:
No right to privacy
No right to property
No due process of law
No right to habeas corpus
No right to a fair and timely trial
No right to a public and speedy trial
Not much right to keep and bear arms
No right to trial by a fully informed jury
No right to freedom from taxes on wages
No right to freedom of educational choice
No right to a republican form of government
No right to a politically independent judiciary
No right to be free from involuntary servitude
No freedom from vote fraud and election rigging
No right to be free from prosecutorial misconduct
No right to freedom from forced self-incrimination
No right to confront witnesses against you in court
No freedom from double, triple, or multiple jeopardy
No right to freedom from searches without probable cause
No right to a monetary system backed by a precious metal
No right to freedom from warrantless searches and seizures
No right to petition the government for a redress of grievances
No freedom from federal laws in areas outside of federal jurisdiction
No freedom from the imposition of direct taxes not tied to the census
No right to representation loyal to the constitution rather than to a political party
No rights, period! Get it?!
You could pretty much kiss it all goodbye. Thanks to the multitude of laws that have harassed us, eaten out our substance, imposed standing armies of police and paramilitaries (SWAT, HRT, etc) among us, and a thousand other violations that are too tedious to list here; we stand as a nation subdued and without Liberty. If you dissent, complain, or speak too loudly, you too will get a visit from the jackbooted thugs, with a not-too-subtle warning that you're on their shit list.
I have already been visited a couple times by the JBT's with their staccato of questions concerning my views, my intentions, my future plans. Next time, I think I'll ask them how many laws they intend to break, in the name of the law? Or whether they are confortable with violating their oaths to the Constitution they swore to uphold and defend, or whether they intend to obey orders to kidnap or kill Americans who refuse to surrender their Liberty Teeth (firearms)? Of course, my next editorial may be written from Guantanamo Bay, but the only way they will shut me up is to shoot me up. I promise!
It's not a war on terrorism, it's a war on freedom itself. The terrorists still wear black ski masks, but now they have alphabet names on their ninja suits and their nazi-style helmets. You are the enemy, and the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Try it, you'll see.
In a nation of cowards, it's easy to see why everyone's going to tremendous lengths to contort themselves ever lower on their yellow bellies in an effort not to stand out, hoping that it will be the 'next guy' that gets singled out for 'selective enforcement'. The use of fear by government to achieve a political or social end is the very definition of terrorism.
I don't know what the future may hold, but unless those who love God and the Liberty that He gave us should all come together in an organized fashion, the game is up. We must answer the tremendous evil that has gripped our nation, and resist with every ounce of our essence... morally, lawfully, and spiritually. Your nation needs you now. Please answer the call.
- Published June 22, 2004
