Then why are they defending NON-Americans? This organization needs to rethink it's direction... this is a land of MAJORITY rule ..isn't that why we VOTE!
2007-03-12 06:08:36 · 12 answers · asked by Robert P 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Yes, it does.
And yes, this is the land of majority rule, subject to the limits imposed by the Constitution. The majority doesn't get to do anything it wants. There are limits, and there are laws.
The ACLU defends those limits and those laws, by defending the Constitution.
Most people never bother to actually read the Constitution. It's not a set of "rights". It's a set of limitations on government action. "Congress shall make no law...." etc.
And any time the government ignores those limitations, the government is acting unconstitutionally. The government is breaking the law. That's what the ACLU does. They require the government to obey the law by filing lawsuits when the government breaks the law.
It doesn't matter who the govt is breaking the law against. If our govt breaks the law, then we as Americans should step in and demand the govt stop, and demand that it follow our laws.
Anything less than that is tyranny and abuse of power.
2007-03-12 06:10:33 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Declaration of Independence includes a little blurb that says “All men are created equal”, not just Americans, ALL. The US need to lead the world by example. No one with a sense of superiority gets anywhere socially. The United States has a tendency to screw with everyone, and later wonder why we’re hated so much.
The ACLU understands that the rights of non-Americans are just as important (I assume you’re referring to the suspension or illegality of Habeas Corpus to prisoners in Cuba, correct? If so, our country runs on the majority, case law. Case law is created when the Supreme Court hears a case and rules on it. That ruling becomes law, and so on and so forth. What complicates things is that are you suggesting that non-us citizens (including illegal immigrants and residents, not citizens)? Law ruled on stays on the books, and only will be built upon with more laws. Where this law goes bad in this type of situation is it has the potential of letting the US do whatever they want to do to non citizens (think torture, ect) without question, because remember, they’re not citizens.
Where this type of mindset stems from is assuming that claiming illegitimate reasons for being jailed is a American law. No, it’s a basic (ideal) human right. If Americans can’t (or won’t) honor basic rights, how do you expect other countries to honor captured Americans? Sure, some countries don’t honor the Geneva Conventions (referring of course to POW’s) and torture Americans, but EVEN SO, is the solution to become like those we despise?
America is so beautiful because at the beginning, it was encouraged to be a melting pot. Even your ancestors had to be quarantined for a few days, but then admitted to be a citizen. Nowadays, it takes upwards of 20 years to become a citizen.
And the last comment, majority rules is a little wrong. You’re referring to what’s known as a direct democracy, where one vote, one man. To tally the votes, you simply count the votes and whatever’s most popular wins. We in America have what’s called a Republic, in where we elect representatives to represent us in congress. Obviously, this system as well is fully flawed, it is one where a politician can lie out their ears, yet be elected because the undereducated public believes a senator can better pubic schools, stop global warming, slow the murder rate, and do all without raising taxes.
To address a previous comment, Majority absolutely DOES NOT rule. How many presidential elections have been lost to those who got the popular vote, but not the electoral votes?
Americans today are like the bully during grade school. Simply because you are bigger and more powerful, you can force every person you disagree with to change to be like you. However, it only hurts you not to honor other people, because guess what? Soon, you’ll be in high school, and the runt (think Japan, China) grows up and can destroy you in fifty angles. Americans are quickly becoming the most ignorant people in the world, and this needs to change.
The ACLU was created to protect liberties. Just because it has the name American doesn’t in any way limit their focus areas. The writ of Habeas Corpus is a American right, but more importantly, a human right
2007-03-12 13:45:53 · answer #2 · answered by Blah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do need to re-think some things (probably not what you are talking about though). My biggest problem with them is that they went from liberal-leaning to liberal. You'd expect an organiztion who's mission is to preserve and protect freedom to be somewhat leftist, but they should fight for freedom regardless of the issue.
I wouldn't have a problem with them if they would step in for the free speech of students talking about religion in school. It seems odd that they don't step up there, when they fight for so many other forms of expression. The ACLU does seem to have a problem fighting for their principles when they have to fight for a conservative cause at the same time.
As for defending non-americans, I think they have a duty to make sure that our government stands for the principles our citizens believe in. Many have turned a blind eye toward the prisoners we have taken in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we just grab people and disappear them without a trial, communication with their families, or anything else, then how can we call ourselves a free country? I don't want America known as a big bully with big guns. I want us to be the country that spreads freedom to new places.
2007-03-12 13:24:52 · answer #3 · answered by wayfaroutthere 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny that eh?
Of all the 'deserving' causes the ACLU could choose to fight for, why is the top of their list always drug pushers, child rapists, illegal aliens that commit crime in the US...never do they seem to want to lend a hand to, oh, I don't know, maybe...
border guards who are scapegoated for doing their jobs, the victims of those same child rapists, the US citizens who have been persecuted because they tried to defend their homes against alien criminals...no, those folks, for some reason NEVER seem to interest the good souls at the ol' ACLU, do they?
At this point, surely a far more fitting name would be
American Criminal Liberty Union.
2007-03-12 13:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by Garrett S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The majority voted for Gore
No Iraq war
greener America
2007-03-12 13:14:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The ACLU protects all Civil Liberties......you should really educate yourself about this organization - if you knew what you were talking about and what they have done for YOU the last 100 years, you'd send them a donation.
2007-03-12 15:40:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Liberals run this organization. Anyone who tells you different is wrong. they will take an occasional lawsuit that shows a different ideology, but make no mistake, this is the ACLLiberalU!
2007-03-12 13:19:40 · answer #7 · answered by Matt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you are against civil liberties, which makes YOU un-american!
2007-03-12 13:14:01 · answer #8 · answered by Robert Novak 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Oh, I thought it stood for Aliens, Communists, and Labor Unions.
And we're not the land of majority rules, we're the land of minority pandering.
2007-03-12 13:14:27 · answer #9 · answered by ML 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
They have forgotten that that is what they stand for, therefore lets deport them
2007-03-12 14:08:05 · answer #10 · answered by Realist 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋