You said an excellent point that I would like to mention now, namely "freedom of conscience" or otherwise interpreted by many to be freedom of thought. I believe that every innocent member of that politically active group retains a clean conscience and should not fear any injurious action of the government based solely on their religious and political beliefs. I think that even suspicious members of those groups have retained their freedom of conscience and thought.
I completely give you basis for your apprehension and anger because, while I perhaps foolishly cling to this belief, even relative history (and yourself) has shown that this is not a perfect system and most likely never will be. I cannot expect perfection from the government, for the government is run by humans and erring is an integral part of humanity; that is say I do understand why you do, particularly on this point.
Perhaps is seemingly becoming my word of the day. Perhaps the future will show that much like McCarthyism, we have persecuted individuals today for their beliefs without any other reasonable basis. I would like, for the present and future, to hope that is not the case. I would at least like to believe that the government is focused more now on individuals than large groups based on a common belief. Perhaps I feel like calling this time a McCarthyism would be too extreme (though I cannot know for I did not live then). I have several Muslim friends with me at school whose families have gotten Visas and continue to maintain their jobs and it seems as if there isn't a largely held Anti-Muslim sentiment currently.
Back to previous point, however, I do believe that surveillance does not remove any freedom of conscience or thought. By its very nature this freedom does not constitute action based on those beliefs. Yet, if anything, the ability to think for one's self alongside the freedom of speech (expression) is central to some of the best aspects of being an American and in the United States of America.
However, these are isolated events and have not been reflected in employment status, suffering or being ostracized for those highly suspicious individuals or the entire group at large. That is important to note. While there are several suspicious individuals, and may have been importuned for a brief portion of their lives (like having the FBI come for a chat), they are capable to go about their lives without further involvement AND are able to tell anyone about how stupid horrible and downright wrong it was of the FBI to think they were doing something wrong in the first place--even if they were doing something wrong.
The idea that the government is testing and watching every member of politically active groups is absurd to me. I do understand your point that without doing anything wrong, individuals holding their personal beliefs were tested and were the worse for it. Yet, I think I would prefer the government to keep me under surveillance and discover I wasn't doing anything wrong without any injurious effects on the entirety of my life; than to have such a terror-stricken social atmosphere where to be suspected by others not necessarily in the government would be to suffer. To achieve that aim, it is necessary to trust the government in its actions so that the masses do not fear. I am not saying that governmental action is not without review.
I am not on the side of the fence to give up my rights as a citizen for a superficial feeling of security. I do however think that and desperately hope that the government is doing everything it can to protect me from those people out to hurt me.
Re: I respectfully disagree
You said an excellent point that I would like to mention now, namely "freedom of conscience" or otherwise interpreted by many to be freedom of thought. I believe that every innocent member of that politically active group retains a clean conscience and should not fear any injurious action of the government based solely on their religious and political beliefs. I think that even suspicious members of those groups have retained their freedom of conscience and thought.
I completely give you basis for your apprehension and anger because, while I perhaps foolishly cling to this belief, even relative history (and yourself) has shown that this is not a perfect system and most likely never will be. I cannot expect perfection from the government, for the government is run by humans and erring is an integral part of humanity; that is say I do understand why you do, particularly on this point.
Perhaps is seemingly becoming my word of the day. Perhaps the future will show that much like McCarthyism, we have persecuted individuals today for their beliefs without any other reasonable basis. I would like, for the present and future, to hope that is not the case. I would at least like to believe that the government is focused more now on individuals than large groups based on a common belief. Perhaps I feel like calling this time a McCarthyism would be too extreme (though I cannot know for I did not live then). I have several Muslim friends with me at school whose families have gotten Visas and continue to maintain their jobs and it seems as if there isn't a largely held Anti-Muslim sentiment currently.
Back to previous point, however, I do believe that surveillance does not remove any freedom of conscience or thought. By its very nature this freedom does not constitute action based on those beliefs. Yet, if anything, the ability to think for one's self alongside the freedom of speech (expression) is central to some of the best aspects of being an American and in the United States of America.
However, these are isolated events and have not been reflected in employment status, suffering or being ostracized for those highly suspicious individuals or the entire group at large. That is important to note. While there are several suspicious individuals, and may have been importuned for a brief portion of their lives (like having the FBI come for a chat), they are capable to go about their lives without further involvement AND are able to tell anyone about how stupid horrible and downright wrong it was of the FBI to think they were doing something wrong in the first place--even if they were doing something wrong.
The idea that the government is testing and watching every member of politically active groups is absurd to me. I do understand your point that without doing anything wrong, individuals holding their personal beliefs were tested and were the worse for it. Yet, I think I would prefer the government to keep me under surveillance and discover I wasn't doing anything wrong without any injurious effects on the entirety of my life; than to have such a terror-stricken social atmosphere where to be suspected by others not necessarily in the government would be to suffer. To achieve that aim, it is necessary to trust the government in its actions so that the masses do not fear. I am not saying that governmental action is not without review.
I am not on the side of the fence to give up my rights as a citizen for a superficial feeling of security. I do however think that and desperately hope that the government is doing everything it can to protect me from those people out to hurt me.