This an act of the law passed by the national congress of the United States 45 days after the September 11 terror attack on the world trade center. The Patriot Act also referred to as the “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism” Act. The Act was formulated with the most noble of intentions of finding and putting to justice international terror suspects who could be working within the confines of the United States.
However, the unfortunate aftermath of the Act has been drastic and retrogressive to say the least. Many of the provisions in the Patriot Act are in clear contradiction and violation of rights enshrined in the U.S constitution (Smith, 2010). The Act violates the sacred First Amendment liberties, which in practice protect the freedom of expression and speech. It encroaches the fourth Amendment too which was crafted to protect the citizens from unwarranted search and seizure. This particular Act authorizes the most unethical, outrageous surveillance of citizens with little to write home about improved national security. The spirit of free speech and free thinking can be guaranteed in the era of the Patriot Act which has done more to create a climate of lack of trust and constant fear (Powers, 2005).
A great American patriot Robert F. Kennedy once said that the most important and critical element of an individual’s liberty is “having freedom of speech, the constitutionally enshrined right to express your ideas” In as much as the American government system would and should fight terrorism sufficient proof should be sought before authorizing surveillance. (Powers, 2005) The Patriot Act undermine the core ideals of the great people who wrote the American constitution and from where this great nation was founded. Members of the fourth estate can no longer publish articles that are too critical about government’s agenda without the fear of being victimized.
The Patriot Act as was intended should help protect the U.S. from foreign threats at all costs, but the act should never in any civilized society be used to violate upon the citizen’s fundamental civil rights. The Act without a shred of doubt represents a trend that is starting to pick momentum in the American governments, one of sacrificing the American subtle ideals in the name of national security (Smith, 2010). The people of U.S fought the to earn the most basic and fundamental liberties they enjoy today. The Patriot Act should not in any way demean the acts of heroism and patriotism of the forefathers who fought tooth and nail for this liberties in the mere illusion of improving security.
References
Powers, K. G., Massachusetts Bar Association., Massachusetts Bar Association., & United States. (2005). The U.S. Patriot Act: Protecting us from terrorism, or robbing us of our liberties?. Boston, Mass.: Massachusetts Bar Institute.
Smith, C. S., & Hung, L.-C. (2010). The Patriot Act: Issues and controversies. Springfield, Ill: Charles C. Thomas Publisher.
United States. (2005). Reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act (continued): Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, first session, June 10, 2005. Washington: U.S. G.P.O.
