Watching the
HORROR of the Patriot Act: How we Can Make a Difference
Art
often imitates life.
The
star of a recent episode of the TV series, 'The
Practice'(1/11/04,) was not James Spader or Sharon Stone, it was The
US Patriot Act - and what a despicable role it was. If
there is still a citizen unaware of the US
Patriot Act and the soon to be Victory
Act, and how the US
Patriot Act has eroded seven of ten amendments in our Bill
of Rights, this episode was a rude awakening.
The
show opened with a hysterical call to the lawyer's offices by a
young white male, pleading for a lawyer to come immediately to the
hospital because his friend was being tortured by the police.
Disbelief was soon replaced with fear as the young man held his phone
towards the screams of his buddy.
When
the new young, blonde lawyer of the firm stormed into the emergency
room and insisted the police leave her client alone, she was
forcefully and bodily removed and handcuffed to a bench. When she
yelled that they could not treat her client, or herself, in this
manner, she was informed that the US
Patriot Act gave them the right; furthermore, they had 48
hours to interrogate the suspect without the intrusion of an attorney.
However,
before she was removed she witnessed the police shoving and twisting a
flashlight into a gaping gunshot wound in the young man's shoulder
- and so did we, the viewing audience. I gasped and had to turn my
head from the horror on the screen.
His
haunting screams permeated the hospital - and still echo in my ears.
When
the rest of the legal staff showed up to add their might, they quickly
learned they were helpless. The agonizing screams continued. The
lawyers turned to one of the physicians and asked if he couldn't do
something. The doctor responded, 'The police have taken over'.
Visibly, there were policemen in every inch of the hospital corridors.
One
of the lawyers went to the FBI to register a complaint. That, too, was
to no avail. The US
Patriot Act protected the police action. Spader awakened a
Judge at
2 a.m.
only to leave without a signed Writ of Habeas Corpus that would put a
stop to the police brutality. You see, the young man with the gaping
bullet hole was their sole suspect for the shooting of a policeman and
the Judge didn't want to be the one to sign away the police action.
Even
as we watched, it became clear that the young man being abused was
simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Proof of that was evident
by the end of the hour.
The
infamous US
Patriot Act was swiftly swept into law days after 9/11, on
October 26, 2001
. Protection was the code word, but nothing could be further from the
truth - or the reality. The US
Patriot Act cleared the way for abuse. It also gave our
police forces unprecedented power against its citizenry. David Kelley
masterfully demonstrated one aspect of its abusive, obstructive,
powers in this episode of 'The Practice'.
The
real life drama of the intrusion of the US
Patriot Act in our lives is equally frightening.
In
July, 2003, Rep. John Conyers, in response to a report released by the
Justice Department's Inspector General's Report, said, "This
report shows there are more victims of John Ashcroft's war on the
Constitution. The attorney general appears on television nearly every
week claiming to protect us, while he simultaneously dismantles our
civil liberties and civil rights. Will the Justice Department ever
admit that it has gone too far?"
In the
six-month report of December 16th to June 15th
there were 1,076 reported claims of civil liberty or civil rights
complaints related to the
US
Patriot Act. Thirty-four were deemed credible according to
the Inspector General's office and would be examined.
Some of
the abuses included, abusive language, cruel and unusual behavior, and
abusive treatment. One detainee had a loaded gun held to his head
while being transported, another was forced to remove his shirt and
ordered to shine his guard's shoes. Sleep deprivation, torture, and
beatings were also reported.
Upon
reading the report, Rep. Conyers said, "This report shows that we
have only begun to scratch the surface with respect to the Justice
Department's disregard of constitutional rights and civil liberties. I
commend the inspector general for having the courage and independence
to highlight the degree to which the administration's war on terror
has misfired and harmed innocent victims with no ties to terror
whatsoever."
Considering most American's get their news from the 7 and
11 o'clock
television reports, and the minute attention these acts have received,
it is no wonder more than one-half of our populace has no
understanding of the danger we're in as a free nation.
They don't understand that they can be detained or locked in a
stockade without legal representation or notification to their
families. They don't know that their every move could be on
surveillance; that their phones could be tapped, or their business
records demanded. They don't know that their DNA could be collected
and kept in a data bank or that they could be deported if they were
deemed unacceptable citizens; that their surfing on the Internet could
be monitored; that they have no rights of denial if they join a group,
participate in a group, or even stand near a group that is considered
suspicious.
They don't realize that their homes could be searched without a
warrant; that their bank accounts and credit card bills can be
scrutinized and that they would have no legal recourse. They don't
understand that their private conversations in their home, or their
television viewing choices can be monitored without their knowledge or
consent; that court orders, probable cause, and justification are
concepts of the past.
For this reason, if for no other, it is imperative that those of us
who do read and do know the threat to our freedom-loving democracy,
must work to inform our friends, neighbors, and family members. It is
time to take up our pens and shout out loud that we are not going to
sit idly by and watch all that our ancestors fought so diligently to
preserve diminish as we hold our tongues and still our hearts.
These
are tenuous times; they're frightening and scary and they hold the
potential of changing all of our lives to the detriment of humankind.
These are the days that history will record as either the turning
point when the populace stood up and made a conscientious decision to
take back their country - or that they dropped the ball and allowed
themselves to be led down the path of no return.
If we
fail to act, it will be the generations that come after us
that will suffer for our inaction and complacency. We can all take a
lesson from Daryl and Jan Heslop. As Democratic Vice Chairman in his
home state of
Kansas
, Jan and Daryl, at their own expense, wrote and mailed letters to
every Democrat and Independent registered voter. They articulated the
issues plainly and clearly and stated the position of the Democratic
candidate for Governor, Kathleen Sebelius. In a staunch Republican
state, Ms. Sebelius won!
What if
each of us wrote just ten letters to our neighbors, our co-workers,
our friends, and family and personally told them the importance of
this upcoming presidential election - and what's at risk? Perhaps,
we the people can make a difference.
Let's
make this a concerted effort of the people for the people. In each of
your letters encourage the recipient to do the same. If all of us who
feel so strongly that our democracy is at risk become pro-active and
forget the adage we grew up with: 'Never discuss politics...' just
perhaps we can have the country that we were so proud to call ours
once again.
© Norma Sherry 2004
Bio: Norma Sherry is
co-founder of TogetherForeverChanging.org, an organization devoted to
educating, stimulating, and igniting personal responsibility
particularly with regards to our diminishing civil liberties. She is
also an award-winning writer/producer and host of upcoming television
program, The
Norma Sherry Show. Her Email: norma@togetherforeverchanging.org
