Truth Be Told
SGT. KEVIN BENDERMAN
AMERICA'S NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP
AMERICA'S VETERANS
RENEWAL OF THE PATRIOT ACT
A SAD DAY FOR AMERICA
BY SGT. KEVIN BENDERMAN
The federal government has renewed the USA Patriot Act, and I personally believe that it is a sad day for America. The Act purports to make us safe from terrorists. But if we are fighting in the Middle East to keep them from coming here, why are we subjecting our own citizens to such police state tactics?
I think this act is designed to control Americans, to keep us from gaining any sense of organization and cooperation among ourselves. If we are suspicious of one another, then we are not paying attention to what some politicians are doing that is unethical or blatantly illegal.
Have we become such a nation of whiny, helpless drug-ridden zombies that we are always looking for Big Brother to save us at the expense of our freedom and liberty? Patrick Henry, a genuine USA Patriot said "Give me liberty or give me death." Are we, as modern Americans, going to continue that call for Liberty, or are we going to pop a couple more Valiums and crawl back into bed?
I see little ribbons and signs everywhere saying "We Support Our Troops." I think real support for our troops is for our citizens to bring some of the same amount of dedication to defending our constitution through actions and not words, just as our soldiers have. Americans are going to have to stop expecting drugs and government to solve all of our problems.
Soldiers are going to need help from all citizens in defending our constitution, as defending it requires much more than just going to war in some far off land. It requires each and every one of us to first make sure that we have a good understanding of it, and then actively ensuring that the ideals of it are implemented into our everyday lives.
I don't think trying to escape from reality while we expect someone else to do all of our work for us is supporting our constitution or our troops.
I know that through our history, there have been some dark moments, but where has the attitude of "I am going to stand on my own to get what I need" gone? Has all the Ritalin, Valium and Prozac totally destroyed it? I sincerely hope it hasn't, for the sake of our future generations.
I will leave you with this quote from another genuine USA Patriot, Benjamin Franklin, "Those of us who give up Liberty, for temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety."
