<VBG>
I'm amazed at how the Elian thing has brought out such passions, including mine. Christopher is a level headed kinda guy that contributes a lot to this thread. While we disagree on some things, it is as a matter of process, not substance.
In the view of history, The Kid doesn't even merit a footnote; that said, it does serve to illustrate the schism we conservatives are fighting now. I'm "Old School." I hate communism, and when modern day liberals spout the same things as Marx and Lennin, it really angers me. Worse, when I see the "rule of law and order" being used as an excuse to deny people their due process as specified in the Bill of Rights, I get even more angry.
But, what REALLY p*sses me off is the acceptance of all the intrusions of freedom by the general population. In the name of "stopping the drug trade," and "evicting illegal aliens" we acquiesce to basically throwing the 4th Amendment out the window.
The 9th and 10th Amendments were essentially ignored since the beginning; the 3rd and 7th were never really tested, and so don't matter; the 6th, and 8th have been construed in a manner that innocent law-abiding citizens are treated worse than known criminals.
Which leaves us with only the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Amendments. HA! Unless you happen to be a major news network, try using some specific words to exercise your "free speech" rights. See what happens if you "peacefully assemble" to protest something the National Government wants, like ripping a Cuban kid from people who love him.
2nd Amendment? Just try to "keep and bear arms" to protect yourself in our Nation's Capitol. The whole purpose of this amendment has been so bastardized as to make it meaningless. Next time you want to "keep and bear arms" to defend against foreign invasion or government tyranny, just take a look at what those who would invade your home bring with them -- tanks, tear gas, automatic weapons, and flash-bang grenades. Well, maybe you could keep a pistol to protect yourself and your family against run-of-the-mill intruders? That depends on where you live. If you live in NYC, Sport, we'd prefer you just go ahead and die, 'cuz we don' wan' no peestoles in OUR town. If you want to really set me off, let's get into the self-defense and protection of property discussion.
So how about the 5th Amendment? This one requires a whole essay. Miranda lets you know that you really don't have to answer the cop's questions, but the rest of the amendment is largely not understood. With all the laws passed by the National Gov't that duplicate state laws, "double jepordy" is now mostly meaningless -- make the national gov't unhappy, and you're going to jail, son, despite what the state courts say. Due process? Don't make me laugh -- look at any environmental property case, THEN talk to me about "due process." "Takings" of private property? Again, this is a ROFLMAO kinda discussion. Our National Government can stomp into your house based on SUSPICION only, destroy your possessions, kill you or members of your family, and then confiscate all your property for the gain of the invaders as well as for resale to enhance the funding of the invading agency.
Bill of Rights? Ha! Try "meaningless words."
Whew. I got a lot more agitated than I intended to here. And, I'm sure that some will choose to challenge some of what I say (hello, Christopher! <g>), but my main contention is that we are losing our rights and freedoms, and losing them BY CHOICE. That really bothers me.
Pardon the diatribe.
jim |
