Patriotism is... supporting the
founding principles of our democracy:
the Bill of Rights & constitutional democracy
Our first major project is to write a draft resolution for the City of Santa Fe - affirming the Bill of Rights and requesting local authorities to be non-cooperative toward requests to deny or abridge civil liberties. Around the country, many other cities have rejected unconstitutional provisions of the Patriot Act and related legislation. Attempts by the Bush administration to achieve 'homeland security' have unfortunately violated our civil liberties -current or proposed legislation allows
- "Sneak and Peak" -law enforcement can enter your home without your knowledge, removing items or installing surveillance equipment;
- tapping your telephone, mail, and email communications
- accessing the records of your web use through your internet service provider, of bookstores and libraries on what books yuo buy and read, and other infringements of privacy, with no demonstrated cause;
- denying your constitutional rights to a lawyer, a trial, and to know what you are charged with;
- spying by the FBI on protest groups or other dissenters.
Freedom of speech and the right to assemble have also been abridged in this current climate - and President Bush wants to authorize millions of meter readers, delivery people, postal workers, and ordinary people, to spy on their neighbors and provide anonymous 'tips' on undefined 'suspicious' behavior. This is a tactic of totalitarian dictatorships, not of democracies.
"(The Patriot Act) is based on the faulty assumption that safety must come at the expense of civil liberties" - the ACLU
WHO WE ARE:
a coalition of citizens and organizations concerned that we are trading our precious civil liberties for an undetermined and unreliable 'security'. Abridging our rights will not give us security, it will merely destroy our longterm security, a security that rests in a strong democracy and the rule of law as set forth by the Founding Fathers.
We believe the present climate is an excellent opportunity for community building and supporting civic behavior that builds democracy, not destroys it. And we can have fun too!
CONTACT US:
email democracy@global-dialog.org or sign up on one of the email lists to the left.
WRITE FOR US:
We know you have things to say - so please say them!
Post your concerns about civil liberties or email us a piece of writing, a graphic or photo, quotes on democracy and freedom, or weblinks, or other media that we should all know about.
If you can contribute web programming, web surfing or other skills, or if you'd like to get trained in our easy method of updating webpages to help upkeep this site, please please email us pronto!!
|
Latest(third)draft of the Santa Fe Resolution
Second draft of the Santa Fe Resolution
Initial draft of the Santa Fe Resolution
Post YOUR concerns
To Patriot Act Page
Resolutions by other cities
Other possible projects
- Network nationally with similar groups;
- Address proposed state legislation that infringes our rights;
- Educate the citizenry on these crucial issues;
- Dialog with and educate representatives - where do they stand on civil liberties??
- Organize debates for candidates in upcoming elections;
- Coordinate with local groups to support democracy, voters rights, civic responsibility;
- Connect the dots: document how democracy is necessary to solve world problems like famine, war, ecological destruction;
- counter corporate threats to democracy and civil liberties;
Suggest something!
|