It really troubles me that we have passed laws limiting the use of Habeas Corpus. This right has been around in some form or another since the 12th century. It keeps states from infringing on the rights of individuals by requiring the state to justify its authority to detain individuals. Sure, you can go look it up.
What troubles me even more is that most people just don't care. The military commissions act was passed in 2006. How long will this law be in place? When we win?
There is a coworker of mine who said, "I don't care, I don't have anything to hide.". I think this misses the point entirely. First of all, the government does not have the authority detain anyone they want. The Bill of Rights, specifically the writ of habeas corpus guards against that. Do you think it was correct of us to detain Japanese-Americans in WWII? What if the government labeled you an enemy combatant? I think I am going to write my congressmen and ask them to repeal the law.
1 comment:
I agree with you. Government has too much freedom - I thought WE, as citizens, had the freedoms. It doesn't matter whether or not I have something to hide - I should be protected from invasion, but subjected to it.
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