The message on this wall was painted by a group of 5th graders eager to leave their elementary school with a splash of color and an inspiring message. I had hoped to simply pass it along here on the blog, but the message seemed all the more fitting when I read that Joshua Wolf has lost his initial appeal and that the US Attorney’s office has filed a motion to have him put back in jail.
If you’re unfamiliar with this case, Joshua Wolf has refused to comply with a court order to hand over video shot at a protest in San Francisco where an officer was injured. His reasons for not complying are simple: He wasn’t near the location where the officer was hurt, the footage does not help their investigation or case, and he believes that the true purpose of the government’s attempt to seize his tape is to identify the protesters who attended that rally.
In days where the Congressional majority is openly in support of warrantless wiretapping and military tribunals which are outside the due process of law, if we do not unite and stand against this flagrant abuse of power — whether focused on one videojournalist or an entire group of so-called suspected terrorists — we are in grave danger of losing the liberties that are hard-won and precious.
It’s a scary world we’re living in, but not because of terrorists. The political paranoia of this age will be our undoing long before the terrorists have a chance.
Technorati Tags: Joshua Wolf, warrantless wiretap, wiretap, tribunals
Update 9/15/06: (CBS News)
Facing a GOP revolt in the Senate, President Bush urged Congress on Friday to join in backing legislation to spell out strategies for interrogating and trying terror suspects, saying “the enemy wants to attack us again.”
“Time is running out,” Mr. Bush said during a Rose Garden news conference. “Congress needs to act wisely and promptly.”
Question: Which is the greater enemy? The Administration’s paranoia or the terrorists?
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