How far are we willing to foresake justice for fear?
My old Sunday School teacher said there were two main kinds of sin: Sins of omission, and sins of commission.?
Thumbing its nose at our Constitution and several Supreme Court rulings, our Senate recently passed the Military Commissions Act. This Act allows any president or his/her minions to snatch any citizen (that”s us) off to some secret place and have them tortured and held forever without any real human rights. But first, to be official, they label those of us they dislike as “enemy combatants.”
Does this mean the terrorists have now won? Just how far are we willing to forsake Justice for the sake of fear? If we live in such cowardice that we condone torture in our name, then the “terrorists” have beaten us, and we have become as terrorists.
I believe Democracy is the sacred Child of We the People. So because this Act slashes at the heart of our Republic, our inalienable rights as citizens, I call this Commissions Act a sin of Commission. And further, I believe that most people who knowingly neglect to write or phone at least one senator to repeal the Military Commissions Act, are guilty of “Child” neglect by Omission. Most likely, it will be our children, not us, who will suffer most from this unjust Act, unless it”s repealed.?
If this sounds harsh, consider the latest lockstep toward fascism, the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, which allows the president to declare a “public emergency” and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units ? without the consent of the governor ? in order to “suppress public disorder.” The National Guard has now been stolen from the states. This, the worst fear of the Founding Fathers.
First, round up non-violent protesters, then the journalists!?
This is not a partisan issue, but a moral issue. Future presidents, whatever their party, could label, imprison and torture civil opposition leaders as “enemy combatants” or persons “responsible” for “public disorder.” These two Acts together “legally” allow a president to eliminate members of Congress, the Supreme Court and Governors, by declaring a “public emergency,” possibly during a contested election.
Dear readers, you are the present day parents and protectors of the democratic-republican Ideal for generations to come for all humanity. You can honor and nurture humanity and feel better by a simple request to a senator today. I believe you are called to be remembered as great Souls who selflessly sacrificed in the face of great odds to preserve and “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” by the simple act of one postcard to two senators asking for repeal of these two illegal and unjust Acts.? (And please tell friends). God loves you. More information on this at www.Rall.com???????
Thank you.?
Edwin (Bill) Christwitz
Clearlake
Great honor to represent First Assembly District
I want to express my deep appreciation to the voters of the First Assembly District for your support in my re-election to the California State Assembly. I will continue, these next two years, working on your behalf with the same kind of energy, enthusiasm and commitment of my first two terms.
I am excited about my new responsibility as Chair of Budget Subcommittee 1, overseeing all spending related to healthcare.
It is my great honor to represent the good people of the North Coast. I am humbled by your faith in me and I thank you for returning me to the Legislature for one more term as your representative.
Patty Berg
State Assemblymember
