Re: Civil liberties, anyone?
gabby, on host 208.130.229.116
Tuesday, December 18, 2001, at 13:30:35
Re: Civil liberties, anyone? posted by The Other Matthew on Tuesday, December 18, 2001, at 05:44:00:
>People who are not citizens of the > United States HAVE NO CONSTITUTIONAL > RIGHTS.
Why not? The Constitution doesn't give rights to citizens, it takes them away from the government. Amendments 4, 5, and 6 begin with these terms:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons..." "No person shall be held..." "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy..."
Amendments 7 and 8 don't even make a reference to the person concerned in the trial.
It doesn't sound like there's any reference to citizenship. Those limitations apply wherever the US government is in charge, and therefore should apply to anyone and everyone within US borders.
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It seems almost like a different country, to have someone publicly jeered for stating political opinions. It sounds like a redefinition of patriotism, from "love of country" to "support of government."
The laws being passed now may or may not help the authorities to prevent future terrorist attacks. It doesn't seem likely, however, that it is possible to ever be rid of these intrusive laws in the future short of violent revolution. That's why even mild civil liberty groups are unnerved about these laws. There are convincing writings floating around which claim that we can guarantee greater safety by increasing civil liberty, rather than restricting it.
gab"Leaders now have difficult decisions to make either way, and I'm glad I'm not the one who has to make them."by
Lady Liberty is one ferocious mother
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