The War on Terrorism is an Attack on American Civil Liberties Essay

The War on Terrorism is an Attack on American Civil Liberties After the attacks on 9/11 our country has been forced to confront the issue of terrorism.   The war on terrorism has ignited a war on our civil liberties.   Our civil liberties have been affected by the passing of the Patriot Act, the violation of privacy, and an increase in racial profiling. Civil liberties have been affected immensely by the Patriot Act.   A brief definition of the Patriot Act is; uniting and strengthening America by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism.   The Patriot Act modifies the rules on searches.   It allows third party holders of your financial, library, travel, video rental, phone, medical, church, synagogue and mosque records. These records can be searched without your knowledge or consent provided the government says it's trying to protect against terrorism.   The FBI only needs to say the search will protect against terrorism and they don't need probable cause or evidence.   A judge has no authority to reject this application.   The person doesn't have to be a terror suspect themselves as long as the government's purpose is an authorized investigation to protect against internal terrorism.   The Patriot Act also violates everyone's constitutional right to privacy.   The ACLU shows a funny b ut scary illustration of what the government can do with the information they obtain by violating the right to privacy.   Basically, the Patriot Act allows the government to monitor anyone and everyone's life whenever they choose.   While some say the Patriot Act violates civil liberties, it was designed to support the effort against terrorism. The Patriot Act also created a counter-terrorism fund and increased funding for... ...on Terrorism Has Not Eroded Civil Liberties."    Civil Liberties: Opposing Viewpoints.   Ed. Auriana Ojeda.   New York: Greenhaven Press, 2004.    * * Campbell, Geoffrey.   A Vulnerable America: An Overview of National Security.   Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books, 2004. * * Cassak, Lance, and Milton Hewmann.   Good cop, Bad cop: Racial Profiling and Competing Views of Justice.   New York: PeterLang Publishing, 2003. * * Lithwick, Dahlia, and Julia Turner.   "From a Guide to the Patriot Act."   Slate.   1994.  Ã‚   * * Nielson, Arrah.   "Profiling needed for airport security."   The University Daily Kansan.   27 August 2003.   1 November 2004.    * * Terris, Bruce J.   "Ethnic Profiling is Necessary."   Civil Liberties: Opposing Viewpoints.   Ed. Auriana Ojeda.   New York: Greenhaven Press, 2004.