My CS 404 Thoughts

Our discussion in (and after) class today is something that I have thought about somewhat frequently for the last few years. The additional security measures enacted since the attacks on 9-11-01 worry me a little bit. Terrorists do what they do to disrupt lives and strike fear into the hearts of those they target. John Locke stated that people form a society to receive, among other things, the protection of that society. Terrorist do what they do knowing full well that these societies will treat them with the same rights granted their citizens. As far as I'm concerned, in antagonizing and seeking to destroy these societies terrorists are waiving their "right" to those protections. In cases where there is confirmation of terrorist activity I believe wire-tapping and other forms of electronic eavesdropping are completely warranted. However, I don't believe that we need new legislation to allow for secret electronic eavesdropping on law-abiding citizens without a warrant as granted in the Constitution. The question of where the line is drawn between confirmed terrorist activity is something that must be considered and there must be some accountability, even if after the fact. I also believe that the way to counteract those terrorists is not to let them affect the way we live. I am firm believer in the idea that much of the damage done on 9-11-01 could have been averted if citizens of the country were better prepared to fight back like the passengers of United Flight 93. But that is another subject for another day.