06.08.07
It Rankles
Having been raised to answer for my actions and to be an honorable man I find it difficult to deal with a culture in which people are doubted. From early childhood we were taught that one is innocent until proven guilty, to give folks the benefit of the doubt. I can only imagine what was going through the minds of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America when they hammered out the United States Constitution. What outrages had they born that caused them to pen the Fourth and Fifth Amendments?
Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Those two amendments are beautiful They basically state that the government can’t push you around nor take what is yours “just because”. They presume innocence and demand that the government treat citizens with respect. The government is forced to gather evidence first and THEN make a search or arrest. They must establish “probable cause” rather than invade and look for evidence to charge someone.
Few folks in the US know what it means to be subject to search anywhere, anytime just because the police are looking “for something”. Few know the indignity of being presumed guilty until proven innocent, of your mere presence on a street being “probable cause” for a pat down. Let me tell you, it rankles. It rankles to have private property taken and held “until we can show there’s not a problem with it or you.” It rankles to be subjected to searches along the roads, in town or wherever the authorities choose to do so. And in the area we live, there’s nothing one can do about it.
That is why I thank God for the freedom I have in Christ. That’s why I agitate for freedom in my native land. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND why folks in the US simply don’t care that their airline baggage is subject to search and seizure of anything the airport authorities decide you can’t have - and all out of the sight of the public. Why is there no outrage that private individuals are allowed to paw through the belongings of the citizenry? Why have we sunk so low that we do not care that our constitution is violated time after time, day after day, all in the name of “security”. What a slap in the face to our forefathers that a third world nation where the concepts found in the fourth and fifth amendments of the US Constitution are unknown and folks are stopped and searched day in and day out has a far better system of searching airline baggage. They run the bag through the X-ray (just like in the US) and if there’s something they want to see closer or examine they have the owner of the bag unlock it, then they open it in his presence. It’s still not perfect, but it beats the current US aberration all to bits.