"To Earn my Vote, Kerry must Protect my Civil Rights"

[Q]

Published on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 by the Seattle Times

To Earn my Vote, Kerry must Protect my Civil Rights

by Parvez Ahmed

Millions of Americans will tune in as John Kerry accepts his nomination to be the Democratic Party's candidate for president. It will be the most anticipated speech of his lifetime, a life with a remarkable record of courage, patriotism and service. Kerry the person has earned my respect. Will Kerry the candidate earn my vote, too? As we tune in, each one of us will like to hear about something that is most dear to our hearts. For many voters like me it will be civil rights. Early on during the Democratic primaries, Kerry voiced his displeasure about the Patriot Act. However, since being the presumptive nominee, his silence on this issue has been deafening.

Preserving our liberal democracy is perhaps the single-most-important issue facing Americans this election, although polls suggest otherwise. Public silence confirms an uncomfortable truth that since 9-11, the civil rights of some Americans have been compromised while the majority remains oblivious to the dangers that lurk around the corner. Fighting terrorism is important. But this fight cannot take place at the expense of civil liberties. At the end of the day, if we cannot protect the very fabric that unites us as a nation, then what is it that we are fighting for?

Right after the ill-fated day of Sept. 11, 2001, a majority of Americans, despite the historical admonition of Ben Franklin to not do so, were willing to give up a little bit of liberty for a little bit of security. A vigorous debate on this issue might have yielded some answers as to exactly which rights Americans were willing to give up to be a little bit more secure. This did not happen and the Patriot Act was rushed through Congress in record legislative time. The onus of a severe curb on civil liberties fell largely on Muslims and Arabs, many of whom were nonvoters. A voiceless and defenseless group of people was soon to become the collateral damage of the war on terror.

Since 9-11, this group has been subjected to special interviews, registrations, automatic detentions and deportations. Many have been tried in secret, while others had no trials afforded to them. Some have been detained based on their political opinions, others for their political associations with disfavored groups. Some Muslim charities have been shut down and many have been intimidated into silence. American-Muslims now live with the dread of a knock at the door often at wee hours of the night or early morning. Many are coping with the reality of racial profiling at airports, discrimination at places of work, verbal abuse in public and hate crimes at places of worship. A recent poll showed nearly 88 percent of Muslims saying that they knew of at least one person who suffered anti-Muslim bias or discrimination.


http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0727-09.htm

[Caution]

1. How is Kerry supposed to do this without your vote?

[shraby]

2. If he says he'll do away with

the Patriot Act, the republicans will be all over him like flies on shit claiming that he won't "protect" us and is weak on defense. Let him get in office fer chris' sakes.

[stavka]

3. Can he "Borrow" your vote then?

[Mandate My Ass]

4. The title says it all "To Earn my Vote, Kerry must Protect my Civil Rights

Politicians have to *earn* your vote. You don't indiscriminately give it in the hopes that once they have it (and you have no more leverage) that they'll just give you want although you haven't extracted a promise to that effect.

[nyhuskyfan]

5. Yes, but...

Would you rather give your vote to the person who has already demonstrated full-well that we will take those rights away -- or the person who you hope will fight for them?

Even though the current polls are even, Republicans are in control of all three branches of government. With four more years to appoint judges and run rampant over the Bill of Rights without the concern of re-election, who knows where we'll be. A John Kerry fighting a Republican congress for civil rights is better than Bush rubber-stamping every bill that deteriorates them. And Kerry getting the coopoeration of a Democratic congress is the best option of all.

[Mandate My Ass]

6. No I wouldn't

but, as I'm sure you know, you've presented a false dichotomy.

[cprise]

7. Our whole electoral system

...is a false dichotomy.

[Mandate My Ass]

8. True

Dennis Kucinich was the only one who spoke out in favor of adopting Instant Run-Off voting, IIRC.

[Democat]

9. Vote for Bush and The Supreme Court will take away your rights

Vote for Kerry if for no other reason than getting a moderate on the Supreme Court.