It starts with being afraid

It starts with being afraid

Democracies come and democracies go. In the course of human history there have been many democracies but none that lasted longer than the one in the United States of America.

A democracy often starts amid violence. In the United States it began with a group of men who were fed up with tyranny. The revolted and formed a democratic nation.

It is more interesting to note how a democracy ends!

The end of democracy starts with being afraid! A fearful people will too often put safety above freedom, a fearful people will, all too often, give up their rights to end the fear and feel safe. This is a false sense of security because the real security is in the rights we enjoy.

The government, in order to soothe the fears of the populace will pass laws that restrict or take away some of their rights. All in the name of improving law enforcement. The loss of a right, any right makes it just a little bit easier to lose other rights.

The idea that giving up rights in order to preserve safety is a fallacy. Losing rights is even more dangerous than terrorism, war, or natural catastrophe. However, many people are willing to do anything to feel safe because the don't realize that feeling safe does not mean they are safe! Unfortunately, the 'many people' are often in the majority.

In a dictatorship a man is guilty until proven innocent.

In a dictatorship a man can be arrested simply because he spoke with another criminal. It doesn't matter if all he did was give directions.

In a dictatorship a man has no privacy. The police can stop and search anytime they want.

In a dictatorship a man can be held without bail.

In a dictatorship a man may be denied a lawyer.

In a dictatorship a man can be held incommunicado.

In a dictatorship a man has no rights.

Is the United States becoming a dictatorship? The Bush administration passed The Patriot Act. They did it to soothe the fear of the American people. Does it make us safer? If you have done your homework and know what The Patriot Act does, what powers it gives to police, you would realize it only makes us vulnerable.

We have a wonderful country and freedom envied or feared by almost every other person in the world. The leaders of other countries and those who want to be leaders fear us. The populations they lead or want to lead envy us. Many countries have tried to emulate our freedoms, Will we throw it all away in the name of feeling safe? I hope not!

There are 10 reasons the United States has lasted so long as a democracy, we call them The Bill of Rights. These 10 amendments to the Constitution protect our rights and freedoms.

Amendment 1

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.

Amendment 2

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment 3

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment 4

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment 5

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment 6

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment 7

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment 8

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment 9

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment 10

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

These 10 amendments to our Constitution are our safety. They are why so many people fear and envy the American People. If we lose them, we lose all.

The Patriot Act allows searches based on nothing more than the belief that a man is a terrorist. A suspected terrorist can be held incommunicado and without bail. A suspected terrorist can be denied a lawyer. This is the province of a dictatorship, not a free nation. The Patriot Act is one of the most unpatriotic laws ever passed. It is blasphemy for a free nation. It is the start of a dictatorship.

Let us preserve our freedoms. Let us preserve our rights. Let us be safe and not just feel safe.

Amen