In class, we are reviewing civil liberties and perilous times. Ihave begun to wonder if I am the only person who believes it is not ever ok for a president or a government to suspend laws. We learned from the Civil war group that when Lincoln was president, he suspended the Habeas Corpus law, meaning that the government could basically throw anyone in jail without reasonable proof or reason, just because the people of that time were scared. I don't think that he was justified doing this and for anyone who does believe that, what does that say to our leaders of today? If Bush suddenly decided to cut Habeas Corpus, what would happen to America as we know it? Anyone for any reason could be thrown in jail. When is it ever ok for a president or official to take away our birth given constitutional rights?
2 comments:
Hmm...
In response to your well thought out post, I wonder if you consider times when the ultimate fate of the nation depends on the conflict at hand (preview of my essay). It seems wrong to take away civil liberties, but what if that's all that can save our country? Is it OK to keep our liberties and eventually have our country overrun or taken over?
I completely agree. I believe that it is never just to suspend civil liberties. Our rights are insured under the constitution and no president or government official has the right to abridge the constitution. Not only is it unethical, but according to the constitution it is illegal. In the United States, people who commit illegal acts are prosecuted. Those who try to limit civil liberties should be held accountable and prosecuted for their crimes against the country.
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