Why Civil Liberties are Critical for America!

This will be a short post tonight, but I am very wired up.

For some reason in our country, when you mention Civil Liberties[wikipedia], you are immediately pegged as a nut-job and a conspiracy theorist. I find this to be very disturbing. So to start with, what is the definition of "Civil Liberties"?

Civil liberties is the name given to freedoms that completely protect the individual from government. Civil liberties set limits for government so that it can not abuse its power and interfere with the lives of its citizens.

A few items have come to my attention and I want to share them with you.

Situation 1:
I do not have all the details, but some of my fellow Ron Paul supporters here in the Metro Atlanta area went to a local intersection next to a mall, and waved signs at passing cars. They were standing on a street corner that was nearest the Mall. The mall security guard told them that if they did not leave they would be arrested. Then the real police showed up and said that they were not allowed to hand out information because it was solicitation. They also cited this as a state law. I am not a lawyer, but these seem very very poor reasons. Your only real option at that point is to be arrested and then fight it. Otherwise you just have to go home. Since most of us do not want the hassle and can not afford the attorney's fees, we just drop it and go home.

Situation 2:
In Kennesaw, GA, it is my understanding that to wave signs on the side of the road you need to request a permit. municode.com Now, I have not actually applied for this and some folks are checking into the validity of this, but still. So now you need a permit from the government to protest against the government? What is to keep them from saying "no" to a permit. If you still protest without a permit, I assume they will arrest you or fine you. These do not seem to be very good options.

[Update 11/14/2007 -- I have learned some additional information about this incident. First off, the sign waving group was approached by a cop, and he was the one that told them that they needed a permit. A citizen contacted a city official to check these facts and was told that the cop was incorrect. So the city is clear, but the officer was wrong. But then again, if you told the officer he was wrong, his response would probably have been "Sir if you continue to argue with me, I'll be forced to arrest you". Arguing with cops usually never has a good outcome in the short run.]

Situation 3:
Research the following individual: Paul Jacob. http://www.freepauljacob.com/the-story/ He was arrested going door to door getting petitions for a new law in Oklahoma. His crime? He was not from Oklahoma. The sentence he is looking at is 10 years. Former presidential candidate Steve Forbes wrote a piece called “Has North Korea Annexed Oklahoma?”. This is serious business.

Situation 4:
Talk with an African American over the age of 60, and ask them what it was like to grow up without any civil liberties.

Situation 5:
Go and read the stories of Japanese Americans during World War II, and what it was like to be interned during the war just because they were Japanese [wikipedia]

The other day, I became interested in our first amendment and actually went and read what it said:

First Amendment [wikipedia]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So in the situation 1 and 2 which have to do with Assembly, you could probably argue and maybe win because of the "right of the people peaceably to assemble". Or maybe not these days. It is easy to say "things are not that bad" because your life is going well, but if you ever try and make a change in the world, you will find a large uphill battle against the entrenched power structure. If we wait too long you may find a wall instead of a hill.

By now, you are probably thinking, "Ok, Cade has lost it" but just think about it. Put yourself in a position where you have no voice, and no power, and no authority to speak up. Rights are lost a little bit at a time, and do not ever forget: Our Government works for the citizens that elect it, but right now, it seems the citizens work for the Government.


Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. -- Thomas Jefferson