President’s Language Echoes Tyrant’s“The most important job of government is to protect the homeland,” according to President Bush. He is absolutely wrong! The President and nearly every member of government vow to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. They do not take an oath to protect the homeland – although the Constitution does suggest they provide for the common defence. No, protecting the homeland is the sort of vague incitement that tyrants have used throughout the ages to justify police states, to oppress dissent, and even to justify genocide. The most important job of our government is to protect the liberties embodied in the Constitution. The Soviets under Stalin were effective at protecting mother Russia. The Germany of Adolph Hitler “protected” the fatherland from the “racial impurities” of the Jews. Even Saddam Hussein managed to protect the homeland from internal dissent. But all that security is nothing compared to the liberties we should defend vehemently. It’s our right to dissent, our tolerance of plurality, and our adherence to principle even in the conduct of war that should set us apart. Thankfully, Colin Powell and a few of our Senators, even key Republicans, recognize the need for integrity in how we treat even those who would destroy us. They’ve rejected the Bush administration’s desire to circumvent the Geneva Conventions, to deny defendants access to evidence, and to allow coerced information into trials. Unfortunately, the Representatives in the House have not demonstrated the same backbone in preserving the principles of liberty. They apparently feel that fair trials are not a right we can afford to extend to our enemies. On the contrary; unless we can extend our principles when inconvenient or difficult, they mean nothing. That’s what integrity is about; adherence to principle despite popular sentiment or expedience. Michael Previous: Frist using DoD bill to push gambling ban? -- Next: Al Gore hits on a credible concept? |
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