6/11/2002 - Robert

This is a copy of a letter I sent to the ACLU and Democracy Now (Header modified, of course), but I received no meaningful response...  What do you think?  Email me.

Hello, I am a "card-carrying member of the ACLU" in search of some
advice.  It pertains to this:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. citizen who allegedly planned to build and
explode a radioactive "dirty bomb" in the United States may never face
trial, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday.

http://europe.cnn.com/2002/US/06/11/dirty.bomb.suspect/index.html


This has been a worsening problem since september 11th.  Our freedoms are
being removed bit by bit, and there's almost nothing we can do about it.
It seems like the government has suspended the right to due process and a
speedy trial by one's peers, which are guaranteed rights under the US
constitution.  It feels like the FBI / CIA / NSA have been granted the
rights of judge and jury.  Aren't we all subject to the right to have a
speedy trial under amendment IV?

I'm not a terrorist sympathizer, nor am I anti-American.  I am simply on
the side of justice here.  If the government has evidence against this
man, I believe they should give him a trial... a fair trial, not a
military tribunal.  Should we take the government's word that this man is
a terrorist?  No, I believe it should be proven in court.  If the man did
commit treason against the country and was planning on setting off a
"dirty bomb", I believe he should be properly punished.

I want to do something to preserve our freedoms that are guaranteed by the
constitution.  If you start suspending them in special circumstances,
those circumstances are going to be extended more and more until we arrive
at the Red Scare again.  What can people like me actually do to help this?
If you publically criticize the government for not following the rules of
the constitution, you are labelled as a sympathizer and anti-American.  If
you try sending letters to your congressional representatives, you are
likely to recieve a canned response.

So, what can we all do to help?


Sincerly,

-Robert