Taking away our civil rights.

The United States is a great country for many reasons, but what is most important is our consititution and Bill of Rights. Our rights are what we are fighting for. We seem very willing right now to give up some of those rights; I am not. If we give up those rights, which make us unique among nations, I don't think there is much worth fighting for.

In World War II, which was a true national emergency, we took away certain rights to Japanese Americans. We sent them to camps, concentration camps! We took away their civil rights. We took away their property. To do this again, would be wrong.

For me this is difficult, because I am Jewish, and I strongly support the state of Israel. I understand what that country is going through; I am not blind to their, and our needs for security. But are we willing to give up our civil rights for security? Are we willing to put aside our Constitution and Bill of Rights because of the current national emergency? To do so is dangerous.

I am troubled by the detention of perhaps 500 to 750 people who may be material wintesses to 9/11. Yet I also know that some of these people may be guilty, and to release them may be dangerous.

Protecting American values is dangerous, our rights are dangerous, because others can use those rights to hurt us; as our enemies did on 9/11. Our enemy also does not enjoy these rights. They are fighting for something that is, well, so Un-American, or for a lack of better words, Un (US) Bill of Rights. But giving up our civil rights, loosening Amendment IV of the Bill of Rights, which protects us from the government is dangerous. Because one day we may need the protection of this amendment which prevents "unreasonable searches".

I don't have an answer, but I do love this country, not all parts of it, but I care for what it stands, and I am worried that we are damaging what this country stands for.

This is just my opinion for what it is worth.