Terrorism: Is The United States Going Too Far?

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate August 2001

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Is the United States going too far? It has been said that what does not kill us, will only make us stronger. It is in these days following the September 11th tragedy that our society must take drastic actions to ensure our freedom. Yet it seems that the ones who are demanding something be done about the security in the U.S. are also criticizing the way our government has been taking action in the fight against terrorism. According to a recently published article in The Associated Press, written by Karen Gullo, the American Civil Liberties Union stated, "Federal authorities are threatening the basic privacy rights of people from particular ethnic groups"� (Gullo). This statement was reference to the actions being taken at over two hundred colleges and universities around the United States.

So far, five thousand male foreigners from Middle Eastern backgrounds (mainly of Arab and Muslim descents) have been taken into "voluntary"� custody.

They have been asked about their records, including what majors they are studying and their private contact information (Gullo). In defense, U.S. officials say, " We looked at the country they entered from, we're not looking at their nationality"¦ They are not suspects, they are just simply people who we want to talk to because they may have helpful information"�(Gullo). But as long as we have groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, concerned more about the Constitutional foundations of this country rather than dealing with the situations currently at hand, there will never be adequate justice.

Was the ACLU not around to see our, the United States of America's, basic rights actually violated on September 11, 2001? The people of the United States deserve their rights to be put first this time. If protecting our citizens, means that we have to take action...