I've been reading news articles lately about the most recent legislature snailing and scheming its way through the house of Congress and the Senate. Apparently, in an effort to make permanent residents of the people in the Guantantomo Bay military detention facility, some of whom might be completely innocent, President Bush in his infinitesimal wisdom is pushing our lawmakers to pass a bill redefining the rules for holding and trying enemy combatants of this country. Incidentally, the law also changes the definition of "enemy combatant". I won't go in to details other than to say that it is a very slipery slope indeed, and depending on the political climate of the time, this law could give some a justification for throwing people into a detention center and never put them on trial, and never charge them with a crime. Throughout the history of this country, generation after generation has faced its struggles head on while working within the founding principles of this nation to maintain order and move towards a better life for all. Unfortunately, I feel that this pattern is about to be broken and we will be a worse country for it.

Ben Franklin once stated, "He who sacrifices liberty for security deserves neither." It's amazing how relevent these words are today, and when I read things like this, I really do feel that our founding fathers did something incredible for generations to come. They are gone, however, and we are here. It is our responsibility to make sure that the principles held so dear by countless people before, continue to guide the hearts and mind of future generations. I want America to be safe, just like most people living here, but we've got to be smart about it. We have to make sure that in protecting ourselves that we don't become the very thing that our current laws are designed to prevent. Sleep tight.