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Reflections
about our American rights
on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
DEC. 7, 2001 -- Here on the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl
Harbor, we take time to reflect.
The September 11 attacks on mankind are at the top of our thinking.
Now that this country has begun its war on terrorism, and is moving
toward success, our country seems more focused -- focused in a way
that America was some 60 years ago today. Also focused on freedom
are our allies, many of whom we foresee continuing their work with
us in the prosecution of the war on terrorists.
Americans are now turning to another aspect of this war on terrorism.
These days, people are beginning to understand why there was such
scrutiny of Attorney General John Ashcroft during his confirmation
hearings. As a one-term senator and right-wing presidential candidate,
Ashcroft established himself as among the most far-out of deep conservative
Senators. Now he seems to preen while he puts into practice views
which chill many Americans. Some wonder if he is using the cover
of the war on terrorism to instill his personal beliefs, many of
which cut to the very core of our tradition of individual rights.
This previous virtually-unknown Senator is before the television
cameras daily, if not hourly. He tells of possible threats against
our country, of eliminating basic rights of Americans; and reluctantly,
ever so reluctantly, finally making known the names of some 600
people being detained under unusual procedures. The war itself has
found itself vying for the front page with Ashcroft pronouncements.
But the attorney general is beginning to find resistance in the
Congress for some of his efforts from people from both sides of
the aisle. They want to know why Constitutional liberties are being
suspended; why the Bush Administration feels it needs to establish
military courts without judicial reviews (with their possible death
sentences); wonder if it's entirely necessary to tamper with attorney-client
relationships; and whether it's really in our best interest to detain
aliens without accountability. All this is done, mind you, in the
name of the war on terrorism, which supposedly gives these actions
credence.
We remember another tough attorney general, in office during the
civil rights struggles, and the war on Vietnam. Yet Robert Kennedy
showed both compassion and intelligence in his days in office some
40 years ago. We also remember England's secret Star Chamber, a
potent political weapon of the crown that Parliament rejected way
back in 1641 as an unwise device.
Concerned about the attorney general's moves and motives, Sen.
Patrick Leahy of Vermont, has been particularly impressive in his
efforts to stem some of the Ashcroft pronouncements. Others, including
civil libertarians and ultra-conservatives like columnist William
Safire, are concerned about the direction the Bush Administration.
I"...And on what leg does the U.S. now stand when China sentences
an American to death after a military trial devoid of counsel chosen
by the defendant," Safire penned the other day.
Raising bothersome questions about John Ashcroft in a time of crisis
is no way to win friends. But in our democracy, that which bothers
people needs to be brought out into the open to ensure freedom reigns.
The light of sunshine will allow those instituting these new practices
to defend them. If their defenses can't survive the cleansing power
of sunshine, our democratically-elected leaders will restore rights
denied during the crisis.
These legitimate questions are now before us. Let the discussion
go forward. On this anniversary of Pearl Harbor -- a moment that
galvanized the best of America -- let Mr. Ashcroft justify his actions
out in the sunshine so we all keep our hard-won individual rights
and freedoms.
FEEDBACK
12/7: Feels
Duke work was forerunner of smart growth here
Editor, the Forum:
Good to see an article written about the great Paul Duke! I don't
use the term "great" lightly as I know of Mr. Duke and
his vision intimately, as my father, Jerry Van Gundy, worked for
Mr. Duke as his VP of Finance and the Director of Development for
much of the 70's and 80's.
In a time when the term "smart-growth" is being used,
and billboards and dense housing are springing up everywhere in
Gwinnett, the county would do well to have more developers like
Mr. Duke in Gwinnett. He and my father set down covenants for the
Peachtree Corners area that limited the height of signs and limited
the removal of trees, among other things. Their other developments
in Peachtree Corners, such as Crossings Center and The Deerings,
stand as testament to what environment and community friendly development
should be.
I have been a resident of the Peachtree Corners area for most of
the last 30 years and have seen many changes. Most of them bad.
When the tree that was brought from East Asia and planted at the
corner of Peachtree Parkway and Holcomb Bridge in a planter that
had the statement "Peachtree Corners - A Landmark for Gwinnett
County" was removed in order to facilitate the development
of that corner for a Target, bank, grocery, etc., it was a sad day.
Sure those stores are convenient, but as could be expected, more
and more development occurred at a greater rate than the population
growth and now we have undesirables in the neighborhood such as
a pornography store. I still live in Peachtree Corners. My father
recently moved from Peachtree Corners to South Forsyth County, a
county that he says reminds him of what Peachtree Corners was. The
disappointment will come for Forsyth in the future.
Hoorah for Paul Duke and my father. The current development crowd
in Gwinnett would do well to emulate these brilliant men.
- - B.J. VanGundy, Norcross
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
About cucumbers
"A cucumber should be well-sliced, dressed with pepper and
vinegar, and then thrown out."
-- Samuel Johnson
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