Quote:
Originally posted by leif
It's kind of funny, Americans don't seem to have a problem with all the new "anti-terrorism" laws (some of which are blatantly unconstitutional) but I bet they'd throw a fit if the government wanted to color their thumb red for a few days...
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An optional system of ID verification and protection gets those who fear all government up in a tizzy. But when 5,000 Arabs are held up to months in jail for no crimes, without a lawyer, and without even a hearing, then those 'tizzys' are silent. Arabs held by such meaures is unconstitutional. But those who most cite their constitutional rights are silent when Arab constitutional rights are openly violated? Maybe they fear that if we protect someone elses constitutional rights, then they personally might be at greater risk? IOW the thinking is self-centered?
When the extermist right wing Attorney-general intentionally subverts the will of citizens in Oregon (because it goes against his own religious beliefs), those same people and their equivalent, left wing extremist liberals go silent (thread entitled 'Where is Dr Kevorkian'). Amazing how those far from the center are really only intestested in rights and protection from government when they feel threatened - others be damned.
Those truly interested more in America than in their own little worlds would be howling at the illegal imprisionment of 5,000 Arabs and at Ashcroft's decrees. But since Ashcroft represents their own political views, the silence really indicates their true interests and political beliefs.