Shredding the Bill of Rights

By: Bridget Gibson - 11/23/01

On September 11, 2001, four American airplanes were hijacked and used as weapons of mass destruction against the citizens of the United States of America. The following shock that ensued was normal. Shock at the loss of lives. Shock at the ease with which this act was carried out. Shock that anyone alive could even concoct such an atrocity.

The majority of Americans supported retaliation for this attack. We looked at out governmental leaders to provide us with the knowledge and understanding of who and how and why such a thing could have happened. We have not been told, discounting the talking heads on the media, the answers to these questions. Ten weeks later, we still have not been told. Terms such as "evil doers" do nothing to tell us who has done this. The finger pointing at the Al Qaeda network seems vague and indecipherable. Evidence has not been presented to the American people because of "National Security".

Well, folks, our "National Security" let us down on September 11, 2001. And, in my opinion, our "national security" is still letting us down. Our representatives have passed the USA Patriot Act in response to this heinous crime. Few people understand what that document does, so I want to tell you about it.

The USA Patriot Act:

Violates the First Amendment freedom of speech guarantee, right to peaceably assemble provision, and petition the government for redress of grievances provision; it violates the First Amendment to the Constitution three times.

Violates the Fourth Amendment guarantee of probable cause in astonishingly major and repeated ways. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution reads: "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 of things to be seized." The Patriot Act, now passed and the law of the land, has revoked the necessity for probable cause, and now allows the police, at any time and for any reason, to enter and search your house - and not even tell you about it.

Violates the Fifth Amendment by allowing for indefinite incarceration without trial for those deemed by the Attorney General to be threats to national security. The Fifth Amendment guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, and the Patriot Act does away with due process. It even allows people to be kept in prison for life without even a trial.

Violates the Sixth Amendment guarantee of the right to a speedy and public trial. Now you may get no trial at all, ever.

Violates the Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment).

Violates the 13th Amendment (punishment without conviction).

We have been told by our leaders in Washington, D.C. that in the name of "National Security", we must be made insecure. If that isn't an Orwellian twist to this first year of the Twenty-first Century, I cannot say what is. Orwell, in his book 1984, wrote "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength".

All Americans should do more than wave their flags in support of our troops. All Americans should be ever more vigilant to the erosion of our entire reason for being a democracy, our Constitution and the Bill of Rights.