Fourth Amendment: “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 or things to be seized.”
Fifth Amendment: “No person shall be held to answer for a capitol, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.”
Sixth Amendment: “In all criminal prosecution, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”
“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could easily defeat us.”–William O. Douglas
My enthusiasm is lacking for this police-state-patriotism that John Ashcroft so eagerly prescribed for the masses. Indeed, I am repelled by what he perceives to be desirable patriotic expression. His most recent “phantoms of lost liberties” rebuke will not ease the pain of his Bully-Brother tactics. In testimony given before the Senate Judiciary Committee, our Attorney General, the archetype of sanctimoniousness, dared to insinuate that those people failing to enthusiastically embrace his “Homeland” security tactics are unpatriotic and enablers of terrorism. What balderdash! What impudence! What treachery!
The measure of arrogance in the testimony of this neo-Pharisee was that of a self-absorbed man, zealously dispensing autographed copies of His Bible. Rest assured! Lady Justice dared not expose her ample breasts at this pious gathering of the elite. In fairness to General Ashcroft, I must admit that the only inspiration Janet Reno received from Lady Justice was a desire for implants. The drivel emanating freely from his Senate inquisitors and the stomach-churning hypocrisy of their prey, gave cause to reach for the handy vomit pail. Thinking Americans quickly learn to prepare for such eventualities when witnessing congressional hearings on C-SPAN. There was absolutely no possibility of revealing his self-aggrandizing motivations at this spineless investigative hearing. The odds were the same against Bill Clinton and his cattle futures queen ever facing justice.
Formerly a staunch supporter of John Ashcroft–leaving aside his alleged pro-Second Amendment stance–I must now denounce his demigod aspirations. Never hesitating to let the people know of his outrage over this, or about that, will he now seek vengeance on those unrepentant souls who persist in challenging his tactics? What lengths will he go to express his displeasure under the preposterous claim of defending our freedoms? Are they to be blacklisted as terrorist sympathizers or traitors? Will their telephones and computers be wiretapped? Can we expect their bank accounts to be forfeited, or homes ransacked without court ordered warrants supported by probable cause and sworn affidavits? Are the harassment tactics of IRS audits in the offing? Will it be a secretive home or office invasion, a knock on the door, or the favored battering-ram incursion? Will false evidence be planted? How many upright reputations and innocent lives will be destroyed? Who will become his next “person of interest”? Because of love for my country and standing in defense of human rights, will I suffer the pain of his wrath? Or, will you?
Recently, the Attorney General publicly advocated the use of detention camps for U. S. citizens suspected as having terrorist associations. John Ashcroft has already demonstrated to the people of this nation that little evidence is required prior to incarceration. If I am not mistaken, Heinrich Himmler originally intended his camps to be used for political nonconformists, and others suspected as enemies of the German “Fatherland.” Does it not gnaw on your sense of security to know that the Attorney General and President can condemn–through an unconstitutionally clandestine “committee”–any citizen as an “enemy combatant” of the American “Homeland”?
This unfortunate citizen–possibly you or a member of your family–could further be stripped of citizenship and imprisoned for an indefinite period at an undisclosed location. All of which will be accomplished without ethical judicial oversight or Forth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment protections.
Except for declarations of war, martial law, or insurrections, habeas corpus–the people’s protection against illegal imprisonment–cannot be suspended. And, if government nullifies any of the twenty-six Amendments (18th repealed by the 21st) or Articles of the Constitution, it has then lost its constitutional foundations; consequently, bureaucratic legitimacy is ended, and all authority forfeited. John Ashcroft’s abuse of power is too obvious to be ignored. Please do not jeopardize family welfare by naively assuming that such miscarriages of justice and acts of tyranny cannot occur on U. S. soil. Like myself, awaken to reality. They have begun!
Unlike our government’s inability to connect the dots of evidence pertaining to the September 11th terrorist attacks, are these dots of tyrannical behavior beginning to connect for you? Many loyal Americans are now vulnerable to all such governmental abuses as a consequence of this deceptively labeled “USA Patriot Act.” Are John Ashcroft’s assurances of protected human rights, enough for you? His unenforceable personal promises bring me no relief, and certainly do not enhance my confidence in his roguish or bumbling federal police force raiders. If not held in check by the people, this contemptuous public servant will have all the might of this bureaucracy–including its weaponry–to bring only misery to those possessors of courage and dignity that hazard to speak the unpopular and denied truth. Bravely dismissing their fear of government, these concerned, informed, and outspoken patriots are the unimpeachable champions of our nation. Not he!
Unlike General Ashcroft, sincere patriots of America will never infringe upon the unalienable rights of others, for any reason. By what constitutional or moral authority does he do so? Is it now his contention that the destruction the Bill of Rights is acceptable collateral damage in the government’s war on terrorism? His recent breach of the barriers set forth in the peremptory Bill of Rights has destroyed his creditability as a defender of justice and the Constitution. He has betrayed the principles of a free nation. Contrary to his nationally applauded position, no situation (terrorism, world war, natural disasters, etc.) can ever be so grave as to justify any encroachments on the Bill of Rights. A war that is focused on fighting terrorism, perpetrated within the borders of this nation or against constitutionally supported United States interests, is always justified but never the intentional or careless destruction of our Constitution.
“Is life so dear or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”–Patrick Henry [March 23, 1775]
I shall never capitulate to Osama bin Laden or John Ashcroft with his enforced police-state-patriotism. Both adversaries of liberty invade our lives with their own measure of misery and tyranny. If we are to survive as a free America, the citizenry must shed this emasculating yoke of national fear, and resist General Ashcroft’s unconstitutional raids on our unalienable rights. His words and actions are un-American, having no correspondence with our founding principles. They are ruthless assaults on the American people, and carry the potential of inciting violent national rebellion. This must never occur! As a constitutionally recognized citizen defender of our nation and in accordance with my patriotic heritage, I hereby publicly condemn his fascistic, predatory tactics. John Ashcroft is an unrestrained public servant; he must become our “person of interest” for the purposes of self-defense, preservation of our liberties, his impeachment, and well-deserved criminal prosecution.
“Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact.”