Perspectives>>Letters | 2/10/03

Terrorism: it's the word on the tip of the nation's tongue. After the tragedy of Sept. 11, [2001], everyone is concerned about it, and rightfully so.

However, to many politicians, it's just another excuse to further their own agendas.

For example, take the new version of the RAVE act. The RAVE act was another product of the ever-present drug war, which would fine and jail property owners for drug use on their property, even if they took action to prevent it. This was so controversial that several main supporters withdrew their support. Now it's back, but hidden in a bill introduced as "A Bill to Enhance Domestic Security," which is very likely to pass.

The USA PATRIOT Act sounds harmless. But it's actually an acronym for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism." Among other things, it gives the government carte blanche to monitor e-mails, search engines and other aspects of the Internet. The wording in this act could be easily stretched, and [it] invades our civil liberties.

Not to mention that these new "securities" are about as unlikely to stop terrorism against the U.S. as bombing Iraq. Our threats on Iraq are internationally so highly controversial that an attack on our part is more likely to provoke terrorism than deter it.

It is important for us to keep track of what our representatives do in the name of "The War Against Terrorism." After all, these are our freedoms they're playing with.

Amy M. Triplett
president, College Libertarians of Towson

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools