When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
This is from the communitylawyer.org website:
If this doesn't scare you, I don't know why. The ill-named Patriot Act was passed with barely a whimper from Congress. It's a safe bet most had not read it.
It may give the appearance of being directed solely at immigrants -- and why should we citizens care about them? As the ACLU web page notes:
And it is also aimed directly at each of us, citizen or not, because it stifles dissent. As long as you keep quiet, you're most likely ok. But let you disagree with the president and his henchmen, and you run the risk of being labelled a " public enemy." To learn more about how you could be so labelled visit the Save the Bill of Rights page.
Better yet, if you live in the Willimantic, CT area, take time out from your busy schedule to attend a citizens forum on this matter at the Windham Textile Museum Wed. Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. This forum is a combined presentation of Charlene LaVoie of the Office of the Community Lawyer in Winsted, CT and Theresa Younger of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union. Ms. Younger took on the executive directorship of the CCLU just in time to start alerting us to the dangers of the Patriot Act, and she's excellent.
For a satire on the Bush administration attack on the Bill of Rights, see the Onion Dec. 2002
(Thanks to the Bill of Rights Defense Committee for the link)
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
The Bill of Rights Road Show
This is from the communitylawyer.org website:
Since September 11, fear of terrorist acts has resulted in the adoption of the USA Patriot Act and several Executive Orders. The USA Patriot Act gives the FBI and the CIA greater power to wiretap phones, monitor e-mail, patrol internet use, snoop on medical, financial, library and student records, inspect bookstore purchases, spy on political activities and break into homes and offices without prior or subsequent notification. The Act also allows non-citizens to be deported or detained indefinitely without judicial appeal, and often without access to legal counsel.
Additionally, a Bureau of Prisons order allows federal agents to eavesdrop on conversations between lawyers and their clients held in federal custody. The Justice Department has reauthorized FBI COINTELPRO-type operations (covert activities that in the past targeted American organizations and citizens). The Administration has ordered secret military tribunals for suspected terrorists and so-called enemy combatants -- even if they are U.S. citizens.
If this doesn't scare you, I don't know why. The ill-named Patriot Act was passed with barely a whimper from Congress. It's a safe bet most had not read it.
It may give the appearance of being directed solely at immigrants -- and why should we citizens care about them? As the ACLU web page notes:
the Constitution does not give foreigners the right to enter the U.S. But once here, it protects them from discrimination based on race and national origin and from arbitrary treatment by the government. Immigrants work and pay taxes; legal immigrants are subject to the military draft. Many immigrants have lived in this country for decades, married U.S. citizens, and raised their U.S.-citizen children. Laws that punish them violate their fundamental right to fair and equal treatment.
And it is also aimed directly at each of us, citizen or not, because it stifles dissent. As long as you keep quiet, you're most likely ok. But let you disagree with the president and his henchmen, and you run the risk of being labelled a " public enemy." To learn more about how you could be so labelled visit the Save the Bill of Rights page.
Better yet, if you live in the Willimantic, CT area, take time out from your busy schedule to attend a citizens forum on this matter at the Windham Textile Museum Wed. Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. This forum is a combined presentation of Charlene LaVoie of the Office of the Community Lawyer in Winsted, CT and Theresa Younger of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union. Ms. Younger took on the executive directorship of the CCLU just in time to start alerting us to the dangers of the Patriot Act, and she's excellent.
For a satire on the Bush administration attack on the Bill of Rights, see the Onion Dec. 2002
(Thanks to the Bill of Rights Defense Committee for the link)
Palema
6:57 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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