I watched and waited for the

reaction by my fellow citizens in public office to see how they would

react. Unfortunately, they reacted the way I expected them to.

Mark my words: In the next

few months, even years, there will be a movement to curtail more of our

freedoms laid out in the Constitution of the United States of America

in the name of security. I have been waiting to write this letter for

the right moment to offer my view of what should be done in the wake of

the World Trade Center terrorist attack. After last week's edition of

the citizen, the voice of freedom needs to be heard.

I would like to start by saying

that I am in no way stating that we as a country should not take military

action against those who did this terrible act: we should find them, their

associates, and the rulers who supported them and destroy them. As a nation,

we cannot afford to let these crimes go unanswered.

But, we must also walk a fine

line to ensure that we do not create the next Osama Bin Ladin by killing

innocent people like they killed our brothers and sisters. We must hold

strong and go after only those responsible for the attacks. (This, again,

includes all associates and government supporters.)

Will there be innocent people

killed in the Middle East? Yes. But we must be careful. Once we have taken

these evil people off the face of the earth, the CIA and FBI should fight

terrorists as it was before.

In my opinion, our true enemy

lies within our country. Our enemy is our ignorance and our fear. Last

Wednesday, Mr. Frank Hyde wrote a letter to this newspaper in which he

talked about what rules immigrants who move to this country should adhere

to. He is attempting to spread fear among us of our fellow citizens who

may not speak proper, if any, English.

What Mr. Hyde is advocating

is dangerous and is along the same line of justification as throwing all

Jewish people in jail simply because they are Jewish.

This country is enhanced by

what different cultures bring to our society. Sure, it may make you feel

awkward if someone is speaking something that you do not understand and

they may not be able to communicate with you, but the millions of immigrants

that came to this country in the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s also did not speak

English.

These people may never speak

proper English, but their children and grandchildren will. To say that

we should not let these people in out of fear that they are not like us

is not only scary but also dangerous.

Mr. Hyde went on to say that

they should "dress like us." So, if I were to wear something

that you did not wear, should I not be allowed to be a U.S. citizen? And,

should the government watch me if I do not conform to your dress code

and way of life? No. And this is where our true enemy lies: In the fear

and ignorance of our fellow citizens.

Over the next few months, millions

of people in this country will give no thought to giving up freedom for

security. They will give it up in the name of the War on Terrorism just

like they did in the War on Drugs.

The government will say, "We

need a national I.D. card to track your every move and transaction to

win this War on Terrorism." And many will say, "Yes, government,

here I am just keep me safe. Watch me, my bank accounts, and every move

I make."

The government, in the name

of the War on Terrorism, will teach our children to turn in any parents

who talk bad about America, and the thought police will run amuck. What

will happen when our police begin racial profiling our neighbors who are

from the Middle East in the name of the War on Terrorism?

Why is the War on Terrorism

a threat to our liberty and our freedom? The War on Terrorism will allow

our politicians to justify more government programs that will invade our

privacy, our bank accounts, and our movements while doing little to really

stop these crazy people who wish to harm innocent Americans. The War on

Terrorism will turn into another War on Drugs, War on Poverty, and War

on Hate Crimes.

We must, as a people, not allow

the misinformed among us to give up freedom in hope of a security the

most stringent government could not provide. This county should go after

those who took more than 6,000 American lives.

I will not let my Libertarian

beliefs of freedom and liberty be taken away by the terrorists who seek

to do just that. We must make a stand and demand the government pass laws

making it easier for you and me to defend ourselves. Allow the airlines

that want to arm their pilots or provide their own sky police to protect

their airplanes. As a nation, we must seek the answer that is a friend

of liberty!

In closing, here are two quotes

to ponder when looking at what the right answer is to the government's

new War on Terrorism. "Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government

program" Milton Friedman, Nobel-Prize-winning economist. "We

are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right

major crisis and the nation will accept the New World Order!" David

Rockefeller.

William Norris

Student at Southern Polytechnic

State University

[email protected]

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