The_Patriot_Act

The Patriot Act The only thing more disgusting than the terror that occurred on September 11, 2001, was the public reaction to it, and, more specifically President Bush’s abuse of public and international goodwill and his new policies as a result. After the “honeymoon” period when this entire country seemed to come together with a common goal and with all differences put aside, the media, the government, and most of the private sector became a pack of hyenas, leaping on every opportunity to exploit the situation. Television networks added the stars and stripes to their logos, and every storefront in and out of New York proclaimed that “These Colors Don’t Run.” People began measuring patriotism in terms of over-the-top displays of national symbols, rather than genuine national pride. Then came the ultimatums: “If you don’t support each and every policy of our President, then you don’t support the country, and you are not a patriot.” We were told, in the name of vague indefinables, that patriotism and political support couldn’t be mutually exclusive. Yard signs began springing up: “I support President Bush and Our Troops.” Questions like “do you support the war' No' How could you not support our brave soldiers'” made us support, patriotism, rights, patriot, act, country, bush, president, must, liberties, government, word, without, public, one, obtain, lose, freedom, every, don’t, civil, cause, american, amendments, warrant, war, values, terrorism, terror, supreme, state, redefined, reasonable, protections, protection, protected