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Civil Liberties Pros And Cons

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Throughout the history of the United States, the American commitment to civil liberties has frequently been put to the test. Examples such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the Patriot Act of October 26, 2001 reflect this. Both were driven by a perceived need to protect the United States against foreign adversaries or internal subversion and espionage. The darkest chapters of American history, especially those involving crackdowns against immigrants and political dissent, have almost always occurred during times of war and terror, or the threat of these events. In times like these it is imperative to remember that America was built on the foundation of liberty and equality. Many liberal nations believe that rights …show more content…

It's main purpose is allowing federal officials greater authority in tracking and intercepting communications, both for purposes of law enforcement and foreign intelligence gathering. Through this act, law officials are granted power to invade the privacy, and reprehend those believed to be involved in acts of terror. Due to this many residents of the States live in fear of incarceration due to discrimination and prejudice. SHortly after the events of 9/11, many muslim families were wrongfully incarcerated, deported and or tortured. There are even reports of young children being held in Guantanamo Bay for suspected links to terrorism despite no such links being found. During this time the government was given power to strip many citizens of the rights given to them by the constitution. With no clear definition given for how much power enforcers are given over the general population and so much power given to the government. With The PATRIOT ACT lacking proof in effectiveness and having so many reported cases of stripping citizens of their rights and freedoms, it's clear that it holds many parallels with the policies of dictatorships around the

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