Forced birth

 

I doubt our present day Supreme Court will acknowledge this

Madison activists push resolution to deny constitutional rights to corporations.

May the force be with you.

Apparently we are at war with soldiers' individual freedoms

Because we need them to protect our national freedoms.... or something:

Troops Punished After Refusing to Attend Evangelical Concert

Pvt. Anthony Smith is the type of guy who stands up for what he believes in. That's why he decided to hold his commanding officers accountable for punishing him and fellow soldiers after they refused to attend an evangelical Christian rock concert at the Fort Eustis military post in Virginia.

After a day of training at Fort Eustis, Smith and other trainees were normally released to have personal time, but on May 13, Smith and dozens of others were "required" to march in formation to a concert headlined by an evangelical Christian rock band.

[snip]

"No option was presented to us off the bat," Smith told Truthout about the required concert.

[snip]

Once outside the concert, Smith and the other trainees were finally given an option and told to split into two groups: those who wanted to attend, and those who did not. Smith and about 80 others decided not to attend, even though they were obviously being "pressured" to do so. Smith and the others were sent back to their barracks on "lockdown," a punishment that Smith said withholds even basic freedoms like using their own electronics.

I want to ask the commanding officer... are you at war with our Constitution? What about freedom of religion AND freedom from religion? Are you at war with Islam?

Update: More details.

A petition to stop indefinite detention

The ACLU's letter:

Stop Indefinite Detention

A debate over the fundamental character of our democracy is heating up: whether or not we can imprison people for an indefinite amount of time without charging them with a crime and without holding trial.

We need everyone who believes in the Constitution and the American system of justice to let the President know that preserving our values and the rule of law is a top priority -- before indefinite detention becomes a reality.

Send President Obama a message. Let him know that -- whether through legislation or executive order -- you are firmly opposed to indefinite detention. We will also send the message to your members of Congress, letting them know of your concern.

The petition:

The debate over indefinite detention is heating up in Washington and I want you to know of my concerns. I believe that the administration is going down the wrong path in putting forth a policy which would indefinitely imprison individuals without charge or the chance of a trial, beginning with the detainees at Guantánamo Bay.

Indefinite detention is a violation of due process and the American principles of justice and fairness. Therefore, I urge you to reject any policy or proposal that would indefinitely imprison individuals without charge or the chance of a trial.

The issues surrounding the closing of Guantánamo are difficult and incredibly complex, but we cannot afford to go down a path that violates our own Constitution. I respectfully ask that you do what is in your power to reject indefinite detention -- whether through legislation or executive order.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Something to remember as we teeter on the edge of the 2008 campaigning

Bryan at Why Now? reminds us there are no quick fixes. McCain wants get political points suggesting we legislate the internets: demanding fines for those who 'misuse' it?
Bryan: (My bold)
"I’m getting tired of all the crap required to comment anymore, but I’m turning furious at all of the attempts by pandering politicians to violate the letter and spirit of the First Amendment because it is considered a political plus.

McCain, and most politicians, don’t care about “collateral damage,” like Constitutional rights, only scoring political points. There aren’t any short cuts. Discover the crime, investigate it, determine the suspect, and prosecute. That’s what works - always. These wide-net tactics don’t work and just annoy innocent people to the point they give up on the government."