In 2011, President Barack Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for the year 2012. Tucked away in that bill was a provision that allows for indefinite detention of American citizens. Now without warrant or trial, citizens of this nation can be thrown in Guantanamo. Has it really come to this? Have we become so weak, so frightened, that we will allow this to happen in the name of “security?” Will we simply turn away and hope that a president never uses this new power?
We are America, there is a reason that our Constitution protects the right to trial. Even the most terrible criminal gets a fair hearing; at bare minimum we should protect that right for our fellow citizens. The blame for this cannot be completely laid at the feet of our president. Both major parties came together to support this atrocious assault on our civil liberties.
Thankfully here in Indiana, there is something we can do. Senate Bill 400 introduced by state Sen. Jim Banks would nullify the indefinite detention provision. The bill would prohibit aiding anyone attempting to detain a person under the NDAA, and includes penalties for federal agents attempting to enforce the indefinite detention provision. We have seen how our “representatives” in Washington work, and we cannot trust them to work for us, we must stand for ourselves. I applaud Sen. Banks for introducing this legislation, and I urge our state legislators to join him in defending our constitutional rights. Please co-sponsor and support SB 400.
— Benjamin Rogers
Goshen
Letters to the Editor
'Security' at freedom's expense
- Letters to the Editor
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Why do immigrants come to the U.S. illegally?
With the current increased interest in fixing our broken immigration system both political parties are putting forth legislation.
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Safety along C.R. 35 is a concern
This letter is meant to bring awareness and hopefully corrections in regard to C.R. 35 in Elkhart County. Something needs to be done immediately to enforce the laws pertaining to the use of C.R. 35.
- Emphasis on gun control makes you wonder
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Goshen should stick with ‘Redskins’
I must respond to the letter to the editor from Mr. Ron Chupp (The Goshen News, May 9). What’s in a name, Mr. Chupp? I too have a Native American heritage, and for some reason, I am not offended by the term Redskins, or brown skins or any other color of skins.
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More important issues than a nickname
I would like to, in the most respectful way possible, respond to Mr. Chupp’s letter (The Goshen News, May 9) regarding the ongoing debate over the term “Redskins” being used as the nickname and mascot for the Goshen school system.
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There is hope through God
May I share what happened to me after praying about the issue of whether to have guns carried by school authorities at Goshen High School. While calling out to God, my question was: Why have we as a nation come to trusting in government agencies, such as Homeland Security, rather than obeying the Constitution in what you have declared through our forefathers?
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Sheriff has this reader's support
This letter is in defense of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and in response to Shari Mellin’s letter (The Goshen News, May 8) about Sheriff Brad Rogers not obeying the laws related to anti-gun legislation
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‘Redskins’ nickname is offensive
The question posed (in the May 5 edition) was, “What’s in a Name?” In the case of the GHS (Redskins) mascot, it is insult, degradation, racism, and an ongoing slap-in-the face reminder of the disgusting manner in which my Native American ancestors were treated by Europeans.
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Millrace projects threaten a Goshen gem
The city of Goshen is in the 11th hour for the five Redevelopment Commission members to hear the voices of its residents concerning the millrace redevelopment proposals at its next meeting at 4 p.m. on May 14.
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We don’t need a community center
We want to keep this short and to the point. We keep reading articles and letters in the papers about the proposed community center in Goshen. Our question is why?
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