The Patriot Act- and George W. Bush

On the night of October 23, 2001, when members of the Congress were tucked away safely in their their opulent town homes, a delivery came. Each and every Congressional residence received a heavy packet, containing a piece of legislation that would affect not only the lives of 290 million American citizens, but the thousands of foreigners living within the United States, as well.

This all-important bill, nipping at the heels of the worst attack in history on the continental soil of the United States, contained important provisions within it that threw out over 200 years worth of civil liberties, obtained and sustained by the blood of thousands of soldiers and civilians alike throughout the ages. One would think that, the night before the big Congressional session, members of the house- both Republican and Democrat- would be pouring over the bill, looking for even the smallest mistakes that they could argue about the next day. Instead, this bill that could throw the entire Bill of Rights into jeopardy was tossed aside in favor of the nightly episode of “Jeopardy!” by the overwhelming majority of congressmen. The Patriot Act is already guaranteed to pass, they probably thought, why do I need to read it?

The events followings September 11th resembled Bedlam on a bad day. Every channel you watched was the same thing, the same video of the same planes hitting the same buildings, instilling a state of fear within the American people. Following these horrendous images came the soothing video and voice of our nation’s President, calmly telling the American people that justice would be rendered to those responsible to the atrocious acts of terrorism perpetrated in the United States. Party lines disappeared, and the donkey and the elephant transformed into a grotesque, hulking being, hovering over the American people, urging support in the great time of confusion.

Oh...but don’t worry! George W. Bush, infallible leader of the nation, is here to save us. With God by his side, He’s going to slay the enemy. Don’t worry, Mothers. Your sons and daughters will be fine in Afghanistan and Iraq. You have better things to think about, anyways. The enemy is infiltrating the country as we speak. The Patriot Act is needed in order to secure the safety of you and your loved ones. Even if it does take away your civil rights. Who needs those, anyways?

This isn’t blind allegiance. It’s agreeing with your President in everything he says or does (It doesn’t matter that he can’t pronounce the word “nuclear”. Everyone knows you don’t say nukes, you use them!) Even the government officials know this is the best thing to do. The House overwhelmingly passed the Patriot Act, without the usual debate or committee hearings that usually accompany any legislation presented in Congress because we needed the Patriot Act. We couldn’t wait another day. Out of 435 members of Congress, 66 people voted “nay”. These people are traitors to our country! Even in the Senate, only one senator objected to the implementation of the Patriot Act. On October 26th, only two days are first being presented in Congress, the Patriot Act was signed into law by George W. Bush. George W. Bush knows everything, and we need to trust him.

Of course the Patriot Act is temporary. You just need time to adjust to it, and you won’t even know it exists. With the threat of terrorism in today’s modern world, the Patriot Act has become a permanent fixture of the American political landscape (Kalet). It’s not going to change, so just watch what you do, or say, or…think?

The terrorists are being targeted in the Patriot Act. My grandma got stopped at the airport because she fits the profile of a terrorist. She attends the weekly poker club meeting up in Marysville- and who knows what old people talk about when they play cards! United States citizens are protected from the threat of terrorism through being targeted. It’s the only way to sort out the infidels. The Patriot Act has made the American civilian the target