Week 5 - Person 4

Adam started off the week discussing how he felt like this weeks blog was one of the most important topics we have covered so far in the class and even described it as ' eye-opening'. He discusses how he agrees with the idea that some things going on in America should be made public to spread the awareness of potential dangers that face our society, but also there are some things that are better left a secret to protect our country and to make sure that people do not panic. Adam also stated that he believed the roles of civil power versus military power should stay the way that they are, because the balance is one of the many things that set the United States apart from other countries

Becca posted next, starting off by agreeing with the seriousness of the food poisoning that Adam mentioned in his post, and provided a link to the CBS news website which showed a video of the latest terrorist threat facing America. She went on to discuss the detainment of potential terrorist and stated that if they are held to long without any reason it could start up unnecessary controversy. She finished off her post by stating that people in the United States are to quick to label people who look different as terrorist. That people need to start being less judgemental and realize that America is many different groups of people living together as one.

Charissa posted third, commenting on how she agreed with parts of the video Becca had linked in her post. She talked mainly about agreeing with the idea of a significant amount of time for potential terrorist to be detained given that there can be proof of probable cause. She went on to post a link to a CNN.com website she found discussing how the United States is looking to have a man extradited for his role in planning a bombing that killed 5 U.S. soldiers. They believe that if the man is not detained that he poses a serious threat to the people in the United States and our soldiers in Iraq. She used the link as an example of probable cause to detain a terrorist.

T.J. posted next, talking about how he liked Adam's take on civil power vs. military power and agreeing with how the balance should remain the same. He expanded a bit on the issue of terrorist attacks against the food and water in the United States and how serious of a threat it really is. He mentioned that many people just assume that all terrorist attacks against the U.S. will be directly on humans through things like bombs, but it would be very possible for terrorist to poison the food and water we provide for our livestock which provides a direct link to the majority of food people consume today.

Jacob posted last, talking about how he felt that Nassir, a man mentioned in the Presidentals Power to Detain segment was held unfairly by the United States. He did not understand how a person could be detained for simply exchanging e-mails with a person who the United States had been keeping tabs on. He stated how he thought not being able to have a lawyer was extremely unfair especially since he was being detained previous to any questioning. Jacob provided a link to Wikipedia which provided the information on Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, and used it as an example of how the United States detainees suspected terrorist, stating that the treatment of detainees there goes against the moral values believed to be held by the United States and it's something he still does not understand fully to this day.

PS 214 Sec G - Group 1: Week 5

This weeks blog is a point on civil liberties that is very intersting to me and a point that I have had strong feelings on. In the Presidentials Power to Detain segment, Nassir, a sixth-generation Labanesse American, is detained when he returns from vacation. He is detained on the sole purpose that he has been exchangeing emails with someone that the United States was had been watching. In the segment, it is discussed that Nassir could be detained for a period of time before he is even allowed a lawyer. How can this be right? How can someone be detained just for exchangeing emails with someone and not even be allowed a lawyer? I get the fact that he is not being arrested or thrown in jail, and if the United States are just questioning him to see if he poses as a threat then when they are done conducting the interview, let him go. I personally think that the United States should not be allowed to detain someone like this, especially if he is a U.S. Citizen.
I think that if you are held on the sole basis of suspicion then this is not civially right and the United States should not have that power. Some of these suspected terrorist are kept at a detaining facility called Guantanamo Bay. This is a facility that over the years has got lots of media attention. It is a very secret facility that holds suspected terrorist for questioning. This facility has been accused of treating the detainees with abuse and torture in order to attain information. I feel that this is another reason why the the U.S. shouldnt be allowed to hold someone for a stupid reason like Lassir had. Why would the U.S. go against it's own values and torture detainees? It's a question that i've always asked and still wonder to this day.

Week 5

I liked how Adam started off talking about two points that he really agreed with. I believe that “Civil Power vs. Military Power” was a very interesting discussion and he covered that extremely well, talking about there is a difference between what we do in America and what other countries do, stating that we should keep it that way—we are this way because of our foundation.

Rebecca expanded on the food poisoning possibilities, which I tend to find most interesting. I think that we, as a nation, are vulnerable to terrorist acts in so many ways, and this is a very scary (yet realistic) possibility. Imagine if our nation’s leading milk provider had a group of terrorists working in their plant, infusing toxins into our supply. On a daily basis, people are recommended to drink about two cups of milk, giving us the necessary nutrients. Children are supposed to drink more, helping them to develop and grow strong, healthy bones; if a high percentage of children came in contact with toxins from milk, what would happen to the future of America? These are some of the reasons why I think that we need to keep up on regulation of our major food suppliers, whether that is through testing products or other parameters. I think we tend to get caught up in thinking that terror is through attacks on humans (via bombings and physical combat), but what if a terrorist group started poisoning the food that is fed to our livestock? We do take in what they had consumed. So if the entire “California happy cow” population was fed poisonous food and water, we would end up with this in our systems; or if they all died because of this, our supply would be diminished and we would be looking for other sources to fill the voids.

I also liked where Becca and Charissa talked about the reasonable amount of time in detaining a person that is “of interest.” Charissa gave a great example of what the proper measures should be in order to do so, proving that Amendment Four is being used properly. In order to obtain a warrant, you must have sustainable evidence linking the person(s) and an event.

Week 5

After watching the video, I agreed highly with Derek Smith in the clip “Intelligence Gathering and Civil Liberties”. Derek Smith is the Chairman and CEO of ChoicePoint. He spoke about having “knowledge of probable cause” being used and that there should be court approval to detain terrorists. He states there needs to be a “correlation and connection to find out relationships and gather real knowledge” of terrorists and the threats of terrorists. He used the example of 9/11, saying that there were two people on the terrorist watch list and through gathering information these two people were connected to the nineteen terrorists that were involved in September 11. If there is probable cause and court approval is obtained I, like Becca, believe that people should be detained for a reasonable amount of time. Under no circumstances, should someone be detained without having reason to do so or for unreasonable amounts of time.

In an article I found on CNN.com, the U.S. is looking to have a man extradited, from Canada to the U.S., for his role in a bombing that killed five U.S. soldiers. The U.S. fears him to be an enemy of the state. They are pushing to have him held by Canadian authorities without being set free on bond. The U.S. has issued a warrant. This means that they had probable cause and the courts approval to have Faruq Khalil Muhammad tried in court for the crimes he is accused of. The U.S. has gathered enough evidence to determine that Muhammad, if not detained by Canadian authorities, could be a risk to Americans here on American soil or in Iraq, where U.S. soldiers are stationed. This is an example of the proper ways of using of probable cause and court approval to detain a person who is suspected of being a terrorist.

The first point Adam makes is about how there could potentially be a huge threat to our country with terrorists poisoning our foods. I agree that this is definitely something that we need to start preparing for now because if it does hit us, we will not be able to handle it if we don’t start preparing. In December, we did have a terrorist threat against our restaurants and hotels. The amount of poisoning that could be slipped into our food would be enough to kill us. This is very scary and I fear that it’s only going to get worse.
The next topic I would like to hit on would be that if we do have suspected terrorists in this country or informants that the military will take them into custody and detain them for as long as needed. This is a good thing because the more terrorists we can get off the street the better, but then we also have to look at how much time is reasonable to detain a suspect. As long as we have a reason to detain them I feel like we should be able to keep them under tight security. But, I also feel that once we no longer have a cause to hold them, we are holding them without reason and that could cause some controversy.
Lastly, I would just like to mention that just because someone is of a different descent, such as Lebanese, doesn’t mean that that person is a terrorist. Just because this person may or may not be emailing an Islamic cleric doesn’t make this person a terrorist. I feel that people are judged too quickly in this country just because they are not “white.” If we are born here, regardless of what religion, race, or origin, we are all United States citizens and should all be treated that way. It is wrong to be detained for simply coming back from vacation. This country needs to start treating its citizens like citizens.

Week 5- Person 5

This week 5 blog discussion is one of the most in depth and sort of eye opening topics that we’ve discussed so far in my opinion. The talks of terrorism and what acts we should take, and ones that we should avoid in times of high alert are rather interesting to look at and gather your own opinion about. All four segments had some really good discussion going on between analysts that were former government officials and well known high powered people.

The first point I agree with was in the second segment titled “Attacks on America.” The talk and information disclosed about poising our foods could be catastrophic is one of the truthful and scary things I agree could happen. We need to not count out this factor out and I feel that the public should be aware of this in order to properly prepare for this. At the same time I feel as if there needs to be a balance of secrecy as well so there is not to be a panic, or a case where information gets leaked out to terrorists or other countries that could potentially harm us as a country.

The next and last point I’ll discuss is in the third segment titled “Civil Power vs. Military Power.” This is I feel the most critical issue we have to deal with here in America to this day. America has always had the civil power take charge when it comes to issues such as dealing with internal affairs, but when the president comes in and military steps in should only still be under extreme circumstances. This power is normally used outside the country in places such as Afghanistan, and that’s where I believe it should stay unless it’s absolutely necessary here in the United States. We’ve proved civil power does indeed work well, and that’s the way it should stay until proven wrong. Keeping our civil liberties intact is of high importance to us as the people. Keeping the government and high powered people at a balance with our rights is something we need to keep the way it’s been here in America, because it’s our god given rights and written in the constitution to have our rights here in this country and not be turned into a dictatorship. So keeping things the way they are and have been is what I feel needs to happen, because that’s what separates the United States from every other country.

Week 4 - Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions

Stephen Dostie started the week by giving some background information on the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. He talked about their intentions to re-read each paragraph and the need to revise the document, in order for women to hold equal rights in America. He discussed the process of the two-day event, and stated “The Seneca Falls Convention was one of the brave early steps that American women took for their equality as citizens.”

Adam Gilbert followed up Stephen’s post by talking about how women had not been seen as equals, up until the movement, having no voice/opinion. He also discussed the fact that they re-read the paragraphs of the Declaration of Sentiments, suggesting changed that would be adopted into the document. He added a link of Lucretia Mott, who was a women’s rights activist; she was vital in organizing the Seneca Falls Convention.

Rebecca Beaulieu then talked about how “Woman is man's equal…” was a quote that really stood out to her. The declaration was a very important piece of United States history, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton (linked). Another great quote Rebecca talked about was, “The prolonged slavery of woman is the darkest page in human history.” She stated that this was a very powerful statement, and that Stanton was a powerful woman, fighting for what she believed in.

Jacob elaborated on the equality of man and woman, bringing religion (Adam and Eve) into the conversation. As he states, they were created at the same time, and Jacob believes that they should be treated equally—and the rest of us agreed. . He concluded his post by stating men and women should be equal and that this convention helped to get the women’s rights movement going.

Charissa Chacho was the final person in our group to post, summarizing what the rest of the group posted; she noted similar topics as those that I have discussed above.