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On September 28th, 2006 habeas corpus died.  You've probably heard of habeas corpus, and might even know that it is a very important protection for the citizens of this country.  What a lot of people do not know is exactly what it is.  If you are detained or brought in for questioning by the police they are only allowed to detain you for a short period of time.  If in fact they have not charged you with a crime then your lawyer may submit what is know as a writ of habeas corpus.  This states that if you do not intent to charge the person in question then you must release them.  This is to prevent authorities from detaining someone indefinately with out charging them.  This is to prevent people from being jailed with out being charged and convicted with a crime.  So how does this bill suspend habeas corpus?  Well if something is not expressly excluded then it is in legal terms it is included.  According to the bill (errr…law) enemy combatants are not afforded habeas corpus rights and can be tortured during interrogation.  But who exactly constitutes a enemy combatant?  Well that my friends is up to President Bush and President Bush alone to determine.  Since the wording does not exclude US citizens it could be me, or you, or your parents, siblings, children, yes even your minor children.  Anyone in the world can be declared an enemy conbatant by Bush.  Since habeas corpus is suspended for these enemy combatants, when they come to take your child away there is little you can do about it.  They don't have to tell you where they are taking the person, or what they will do to them, but they are allowed to torture them physically, mentally and sexually.  They can keep them detained forever with out ever charging them with a crime and you will never see them again or know what happened to them.  This may sound like a bizarre distopian society from a books like "1984", but it's not.  It is your world, and if you live in the US then it is your country, and your problem.

It is obvious that our government is no longer looking out for our best interest.  Infact they are not just neglecting our interest but infact working in direct opposition to our interest.  It is time for the people of this country to take action.  The democratic party isn't doing anything.  Each day they grow more impotent and powerless against the Bush Regime.  The people must effect change!

In case you were not aware http://www.worldcantwait.org is organizing a day of mass protest on October 5th .  There will be protest in over 80 cities that day.  If your reading this then you probably know me personally.  With this in mind please be aware that I will be completely and totally disappointed in you if you do not participate in some way.  You don't have to walk out of work or school, but you can go out when your done.  You can also help promote the event by printing and handing out fliers at school, in the street, and post them around the neighborhood, stick them on cars, hell, staple it to your forehead if you need to.

Just incase your intelligent here is the information you will need to look up the bills for reference: The House resolution is HR 6166. The Senate bill is S. 3861.

Theme Music:

For the last two weeks or so i've been completely consumed by 9-11.  If you had asked me 4 years go where we would be today regarding 9-11, I would have told you that most of the questions would be answered.  Some how though, 5 years have slipped by and none of the questions have been answered, and now hundreds more exist.  At most we've been given explanations made up of half truths, psuedo-science and out right lies.  As more and more time passes I become more and more sure that the only way to effect change is through revolution.  So what exactly is a revolution?  Lets take a quick look at the definition as it applies to the current subject:

rev‧o‧lu‧tion  [rev-uh-loo-shuhn]

–noun

1.  an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.

Here in the United States of America our system of government boils down to a very simple premise.  "…of the people, for the people, and by the people."  These nine ten word above all else sum up the very essence of our system of government.  Lets take a look at these words for a second.  Firstly in "…of the people,", of states that the persons making up the body of the government are the same people that the system governs.  Second we have "for the people," which suggest that the government exist for the benefit of the people it governs.  Finally we have "by the people." which shows derivation, meaning that the people are the source of the government and its direction.

So how exactly does a revolution take place in a country "by the people"?  The short answer is that it doens't.  The long answer is, technically it can, but why would "the people" want to move away from a system that is designed specifically to benefit and empower them?  It is relativly safe to say that so long as the government is of, for, and by the people their won't be a revolution.  When the people begin to loose faith in the system that allows them to elect their peers to positions with in the government then it is no longer a government "of the people".  When the government begins to eliminate the rights of the people, and shift money from programs that serve the people to the eleet "upper crust" of society it is no longer a government "for the people".  When the government is given special privilages over the people the people become disenfranchised and begin to feel that the government is a seperate entity that they have no power over, and it is no longer a government "by the people".

I'll leave you with the following quote from George Orwell's 1984: "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

With that in mind go start a revolution!