[Tamaroa]

This very same subject came up on another board in which I lurk about. The tone of this discussion can be compared to the slippery slope argument. Basically the more freedoms we give away, the more will be given away. I believe it is only a temporary set back, however.

When Franklyn said that quote he did not have to deal with either Civil War or terrorism. They were simply rebels who wanted to break away from mother England for a variety of reasons. Since they won the contest it was not a civil war it was a revolution.

Here are my thoughts: I do not want to give up personal freedoms; however, what is better, giving up some personal freedoms for a short period of time? Or, accomplishing a goal that will make our country more secure going down the road.

Sometimes we have to do a gut check, suck it in and keep going forward no matter what. This is one of those times. Harken back to the days of our Civil War if you will. Look at what Lincoln did! He put the constitution in mothballs in order to save it. As far as I am concerned southern states had every right to secede but had they done so, the once great United States would have turned into a puny group of nation-states which europe could have easily dominated.

Lincoln arrested everybody in sight he didn't trust and kept them imprisoned for indeterminate lengths of time. Wouldn't you call that abridging constitutional freedoms. Then of course there was the occupation of the Southland by Federal troops after the war until 1877. It took a while, but our rights as citizens were restored in 1865 and in 1868 and finally in 1877 when the posse comitatus act was passed which FORBADE federal authorities to govern civilian population. If we can recover from the personal liberties stolen during our Civil War, we should be able to recover from anything.

I don't see anything to indicate anything different here. Congress will not allow the posse comitatus act to be repealed. It has become the basic tenet of our government. Any of the temporary measures that were given over to Bush all have expiration dates on them regarding wiretapping and internet surveillance. There is no reason to assume that they would vote to increase the duration of these intrusions of our lives.

The one thing that is really irksome to me is that our government should have slammed the doors shut regarding Immigration. We are in a war against a foe that states more attacks "against NYC and Washington are immenent unless America stops supporting Israel and converts to Islam." That statement was taken directly off my news beeper this morning.

It is clear that these people are operating in the medieval time zone and drastic measures will have to be undertaken unless of course we all want to convert!!!

So I guess in the end if it allows the U.S. to survive, I don't mind temporary abridgement of my personal freedoms. It is a fair price to pay. This past year since 9-11, my whole life has been turned topsy-turvy. Being a building manager in Manhattan and being across the street from the Waldorf where the UN delegates stay has made our life hell. Whenever they are in town, streets are blocked off, snipers are on nearby roofs, they divert all our deliveries to an area for inspection. We can't even pick up our garbage because the secret service inspects only empty trucks, so the garbage company leaves and comes back with an empty truck to pick up our stuff.

Packages and brief cases are subject to inspection at will by security. If you forget your ID, you can't get in the building. If you are here to visit me. I personally have to come down to the lobby to pick you up. If a delivery of paper towels comes, someone from my company has to go to the dock and escort the vendor to the area he/she is working in. If this is the price I pay to maintain my religious freedoms and this countries right to exist than so be it.

Regards,

Bill Doherty
A 9-11 Survivor