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September 18, 2001
A week has passed since the horrific attack upon the United States by Middle
Eastern terrorists. Our nation's sadness is turning to anger.
Many unethical individuals have come forth in the hope to exploit this
terrible tragedy to the profit of their own agenda. Right wing Christian,
Jerry Falwell, has blamed this attack on God's wrath - a divine retaliation
against a liberal society. Anti-immigrant activists and politicians have
demanded steps to rid our land of foreign peoples. Racists have attacked
Arabs, Muslims, and anyone who looks like them. Law enforcement spokesmen
have called for greater powers of control over the lives of citizens.
Zionists have attempted to stir anti-Arab sentiment while white racists have
attempted to stir anti-Jewish sentiment. Airlines have exploited the
tragedy as a means to transfer wealth from the people to their
corporations. As I write, the United States Government has begun to
exploit the fear provoked by this attack to reduce the rights of its citizens
and to destroy the Bill of Rights.
The President has stated that we are at war, but no war has been formally
declared. The administration has declared restrictions on the press and
announced that this war will be fought in secret. The ambiguously declared
war is targeted at a concept sufficiently wide that it is unclear where the
bounds between an enemy and an ally are drawn. Just what is meant by
"Terrorism?" What distinguishes between an enemy terrorist and a
friendly freedom fighter? What is meant by "supporter of
terrorism?" Is an entity a supporter of terrorism only if one gives
material aid to a terrorist or does a "supporter of terrorism"
include all individuals who share their beliefs?
At the dawn of an undeclared secret war on an ambiguously defined enemy,
there are calls to suspend the fourth amendment, force all Americans to carry
national ID cards, track the movements of citizens, deport foreigners, monitor
communications, report suspicious individuals, and to trust in the
Government. The press and media have fed the American people a steady
stream of images of the man that we are to hate: Osama bin-Laden. The
press and the media have suggested to the people that "everything has
changed forever," and called for flexibility on sacrifices of liberty.
I cannot help to be reminded of George Orwell's "1984," where
hapless citizens are subjected to complete control and monitoring in the name of
security against an ambiguous enemy engaged in terrorist attacks against the
population. I cannot help to be reminded of the book's hate sessions where
everyone must view the telescreen for "three minutes of hate," as the
terrorist leader is displayed. Are we on the precipice of the Orwellian
abyss?
I was once required to take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United
States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. A foreign enemy has
declared his intent with an undeniable attack upon innocent Americans. We
must fight to defend ourselves. However, we must not lose sight of the
rights that our war seeks to defend. Do not let your government become the
domestic enemy! Do not cower in fear as zealots take your freedom in small
or large steps! All Americans must make it clear that the only society
worth defending is a free society. Speak before it is too late.
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