Yesterday, Glen reported that the Senate has decided not to restore habeas corpus rights to the Guantánamo Bay detainees. Wait, habeas corpus? Isn't that Latin? I don't take that class!
But I do take Government and Politics, where we learned the meaning of that phrase...
ha·be·as corpus (hā'bē-əs)
n.
One of a variety of writs that may be issued to bring a party before a court or judge, having as its function the release of the party from unlawful restraint.
So, the question is, can the government take away the right of habeas corpus? From suspected terrorists, yes. But wait, if the government can take habeas corpus away from the Gitmo prisoners, they can take it away from anyone, right? A post I made yesterday mentioned the President's desire to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists. If he can do that, he can eavesdrop on anyone, right? And hundreds of thousands of people have seen this video of a guy getting tasered after asking John Kerry a bunch of stupid questions.
Is America slowly becoming an Orwellian society, in which the government can take away our rights to privacy, trial, and free speech? As long as her people are vocal about their support of human rights, no. Speak your mind. If you like having rights, let the people in power know.
The "Writ," not "Right"
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