Dangerous Ideas?The Department of Homeland Security (aka The Thought Police) seems to be regulating which ideas can come through our airports, and which ideas we should be protected from. On Wednesday they removed 80 year-old Kamal Helbawy, founder of the Muslim Association of Britain, from his London – New York flight moments before departure. He was on his way to a New York University Law School conference on the Muslim Brotherhood. In a similar case, State Department officials denied a visa to Tariq Ramadam, an Islamic scholar. Both Ramadam and Helbawy have publicly denounced violence. There may be more to these stories than is apparent, but the premise is troubling; that we are now denying entry on the basis of political interests, even when conspicuously non-violent. We don’t particularly “owe” any foreigner entry to the United States, but recently, naturalized citizens have been denied entry after spending time in Pakistan. At what point might political dissent be seen as justification to keep US-born citizens from freely entering the country? The so-called Patriot Act and recent detainee legislation are significant skids down the slippery slope to a police state. Michael Previous: Political retribution? -- Next: Give it some thought and Vote! |
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