Home Security and Civil Liberties

The establishment of the Office of Homeland Security, headed by Governor Tom Ridge, and the introduction of anti-terrorism related legislation in the House and Senate, are just some of responses to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Additionally, the Department of Justice reports that 614 people have been detained in investigations related to the attacks. US law enforcement agencies are still seeking more than 229 individuals for questioning. The US Department of Justice has also established a special working group to combat post-terrorism discrimination against Arab Americans in the wake of the attacks. The combination of these legal and political responses highlight many challenges associated with increasing national security while preserving the civil rights and civil liberties which form the core of our social culture.

 
  Web Poll

If the risks to our national security increase, what additional measures will we be necessary to ensure an atmosphere of cultural tolerance and physical safety for all Americans?

Although higher degrees of personal scrutiny while traveling or attending a public event will be necessary, our current legal rights to privacy and due process should not compromised in order to prevent terrorism.

In addition to facing higher levels of personal scrutiny while traveling or attending public events, some sacrifices of our rights to privacy and due process will be necessary in order to prevent terrorism.

In this time of crisis, authorities should be given the discretion they need where the right to privacy and due process are concerned, in order to prevent terrorism.


ExpressPoll