Land of the Free?

Throughout our whole lives, Americans have been presented with a motto "land of the free, home of the brave". I can remember songs, when I was a kid that said things like "I'm proud to be an American, because at least I know I'm free". Of course, I always assumed that we should be proud to be an American for other reasons, but whatever. These songs reflected American resilience, determination and ability. Of course, this was at a time in which none of these things came into question. The truth about America, though is much different.


One fateful day, a day that will live in infamy, a day that is forever printed in our minds to the point where we can all remember where we were and what we were doing-- September 11th, 2001. I can remember in the days and weeks that followed, a renewed spirit, a passion for country and fellow countrymen unlike any I had ever seen. But, as with everything, there are two sides to every coin. There was unity and there was division. The unity happened for those who believed in their country, felt blindsided in the attack and felt at one with those who lost their lives, or their loved ones. The division occurred between those who felt that fervor and those who experienced the wrath.


It started between Americans and the enemy: Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Osama Bin Laden and anyone else who was determined to shatter America. However, the unfortunate truth about waging war against a concept (i.e. terrorism) is that you become unable to identify the enemy. What was a particular group eventually turns into more and more people losing their civil liberties.


Now, we've seen it all before. During wartime, it is not all that unique for people to lose some rights and privileges. Lincoln curtailed civil liberties and rights during the Civil War (even suspended the writ of habeas corpus). FDR did the same during WWII (internment of Japanese Americans, for one). The Cold War saw its share of  curtailment of these same rights (McCarthyism, illegal wiretapping, etc.). During the 1960s, an extreme period of lawlessness and disorder erupted, leaving the people in the same boat that they are now. So, what makes this moment different?


The truth of the matter is, this very moment is much scarier. Why? Because the constriction of civil liberties and civil rights is codified into law with the checks and balances of the U.S. political system failing to prevent the rights of American citizens from being destroyed. It started with the U.S.A.P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act and has been furthered by the NDAA and SOPA. Americans can be subjected to assassinations, unlawful indefinite detention (without the constitutional protection of the writ of habeas corpus), searches, seizures and wiretapping without a warrant, etc. In essence, the Bill of Rights, which has stood relatively intact, in fact, expanded upon on many occasions, since 1787 has been thrown out the window.


We have had U.S. cities be occupied by the military, individuals arrested with little or no cause for exercising their basic political rights and police brutality that is matched only by that seen during the 1960s protest movements. We have people, right now, in this country, being arrested for using sidewalk chalk, feeding the homeless, trespassing in a public park, etc. and all of it was made possible by the laws you see before you. What was passed in an attempt to combat terrorism (which has little or no hope in actually doing so) has now become a weapon of mass destruction designed to keep dissidents of the U.S. government, big business and the intertwining of the two from making unprecedented progress to better the quality of life throughout the world. These laws, designed to protect you, are actually setting the stage to prevent Americans from doing what Americans do.


The truth about America is that in this very moment, it looks nothing like America. We continue to focus on engagement and democracy abroad, but can we truly spread democracy like a domino, if we fail to maintain our humble ability to respect the natural rights of citizens? Can we talk of the ineptitude of leaders all over the globe if our leaders fail to advocate for their constituents? Can we remain the land of the free without repealing these acts and avoiding the passage of others like them?


The answer to all of these questions is "no". I want to return to the America that I saw when I was a child. I realize, however, that this is not possible, so I will have to settle for coming out the better end better, stronger, more resilient and more determined to get back to the basics of what we do best. Celebrating civil liberties and civil rights and protecting both majority rule and minority rights.