Losing Our Way
A new law is about to come into effect in the U.S., setting the boundaries for how we can deal with terrorism suspects. There are two aspects of the law that are especially frightening. One is to strip the right of habeas corpus for detainees being held in Guantanamo. The other is to allow evidence seized without a search warrant to be used in court.
Instead of a long-winded essay on why I find this new law so disturbing, I will use a quote from Commander Adama on Battlestar Galactica to make my point. In responding to questions from an independent tribunal investigating an act of terrorism on board Galactica, Adama says, "You've lost your way, sergeant. You've lost sight of the purpose of the law. To protect its citzens, not persecute them. Whatever we are, whatever is left of us, we're better than that."
We are losing our way as a country. We are thretening the foundations of our legal system, as critics of the law note, and our core values as a country. Whatever we are, whatever is left of us after 9/11, we're better than that.