Surveillance Does Not Mean Loss of Liberties

Recently, President Bush signed into law legislation authorizing electronic surveillance of international communications. It would allow investigators to eavesdrop on international telephone conversations and read e-mails as long as the captures of these communications were committed for foreign intelligence purposes. In addition, the law does not require the need for a search warrant nor probable cause to suppose that the individual is a terrorist or associate of a suspected terrorist.

This measure could not have passed without support from Republicans and Democrats alike. Some will speculate that many democrats were forced into supporting this amendment to the existing Foreign Surveillance Act; however, this is not the first time in American history that certain civil liberties had to be redefined for the sake of national security.

In the past, during wartime and tumultuous periods we have seen many instances where the American government has taken remarkable and some would argue unconstitutional measures to ensure the nation’s safety. During our early history our government passed the Sedition Act of 1798 which made it a crime to criticize the government, during the Civil War- President Lincoln suspended the writ of habeus corpus, during World War I – President Wilson signed the Sedition Act of 1918, during World War II – President Roosevelt and Congress created internment camps, and during the Cold War – Congress enacted the McCarran Act of 1950 which grossly infringed upon freedom of speech.

So you can see that this recent piece of legislation falls short of attacking civil liberties when you compare it to past government actions. I say keep America safe at all cost because if our government fails there with me noting more to protect.

God Bless America