elfie_chan | Sep. 13th, 2002

Okay, I'm disturbed and confused. I was reading the editorials in the newspaper today, and one of them said that the government has passed something called the "Patriot Act." Apparently, according to this act, if the government even SUSPECTS that you may be involved in a terrorist act, they can confiscate anything you own, search without warrant, lock you in jail without trial, and any number of other things. I'm inclined to take this with a grain of salt, but still...can they do that? Doesn't that go against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Didn't we build this nation on the principle that all of us are created with certain unalienable rights, including the right to privacy? Now, I don't want terrorists to get away with anything, but no one should be able to be searched and so on without a warrant and reasonable suspicion. Also, who defines reasonable suspicion? What IS reasonable suspicion? I'd like some clarification of terms. If this editorial is correct, then we in America are in some deep doo-doo. I am a big believer in freedom. I believe that freedom comes with responsibility, but I also believe that the government does not own us, and the government should not go on some power trip out of fear and ego. Am I overreacting? I guess I'll have to wait and see. I really don't like the idea of America's basic freedoms being whittled away in the name of the War on Terrorism.

Well, that's all for now. Gotta do chores and stuff. Comment, please, and let me know what you think. Also, here's the link to the actual text of the Act.

Patriot Act