Upon arriving home last night, I was handed a letter by my wife.  It contained a poll from the NAACP and a donation request (You can guess how much money they will get from me...)  This is obviously one of the political polls designed to generate misinformation.  

Here is an example:
Do youe believe that the suspension of certain civil liberties as advocated by the attorney general John Ashcroft, including unlimited detention of suspects or material witnesses without charge, denial of attorney/client confidentiality and the selective use of military tribunals are warrented in the current climate?  yes__  Maybe__  No__  undecided/unsure___


Now, this may seem simple and straight forward, but to some it will seem that these "denials of rights" are across the board.  They will use it to seek release of those enemy combatants in Gitmo.  They believe that foreigners should be given the rights that US citizens have.  Try reading the constitution.  The constitutin guarantees the rights of U.S. citizens.  Not foreign nationals.  Also, anyone residing in the U.S. that is not a U.S. citizen has only limited rights and then only if he/she is a LEGAL resident.  

I will be writing a letter to the NAALCP and voice my opinion to them about this poll and about affirmative action (reverse discrimination) which is also included.  They claim revisionism on the part of the conservatives and accuse us of lying.  Well, this card carrying, gun toting conservative has a few things to say to them!!!

1.  All affirmative action  policies (quotas, college entry test score modification/enhancement etc...) are discrimination.

2. If you are not a U.S. citizen our constitution does not protect you.

3. The liberals are the revisionists.

4. If you take up arms against the U.S. you are an enemy combatant (this includes participation in anti U.S. terrorist activities).

5.  The NAALCP can KISS MY ....

Neighbors
Are
Always
Causing
Problems

Did it come with a "no postage neccesary" envelope?

If so, mail it back empty and let them pay the $.30 for postage.

[url]http://www.history.org/Foundation/press_release/pr_2002survey.cfm[/url]

[url]http://www.history.org/foundation/press_release/displayPressRelease.cfm?pressReleaseId=83[/url]

June 28, 2002

Half of Americans are willing to give up personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution to protect country, study finds

Half of Americans–49 percent–are willing to relinquish personal freedoms and privacies to protect the country, according to a new survey commissioned by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, an authority on the founding of America.


The survey, released today to coincide with the first July Fourth since last September’s terror attacks, also revealed that Americans rank the right to affordable health care and the right to an education as more important to their welfare than freedom of speech, freedom of religion and other basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution.


One Constitutional freedom in particular–freedom of the press–barely registered in the survey. Only 10 percent of respondents rated freedom of the press as important to society, and even fewer, 6 percent, deemed it important to themselves and their families.


“The results are provocative,” said Colin Campbell, president and chairman of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. “We’re divided on whether we should preserve our freedoms inviolate or be prepared to make compromises. Half of Americans would accept a curtailment of our basic Constitutional guarantees.


“Americans’ views about freedoms have evolved significantly since they were debated in Williamsburg more than 200 years ago,” Campbell added. “When asked which freedoms are valued most, those actually in the Constitution rank far behind concerns about health care, education and getting ahead economically. We assume the existence of fundamental rights and focus instead on modern needs and entitlements.”


“The survey results remind us that rights taken for granted are rights that can easily be eroded or lost,” said Gordon Wood, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, Brown University professor and trustee of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. “Colonial Williamsburg is a place where the struggles and precariousness associated with freedom are represented and explored every day.”


Our Freedoms Post-September 11


One outcome of the September 11 tragedies may be the end–at least temporarily–of the self-centered American. Twice as many Americans–60 percent–said “fundamental responsibility to society and the role you play as a citizen of this country” is more important than “fundamental freedom as an individual and the ability to do whatever you want,” which was endorsed by only 30 percent of respondents.


The survey also examined a number of principles on which the United States has been built. Of six principles surveyed, participants chose freedom of speech as the most important for society as a whole, and second most important to themselves and their families.


Beyond freedom of speech, however, respondents were divided in defining how basic Constitutional freedoms can and should be pursued in a post-September 11 climate.
For example, 49 percent agreed with the statement “We are living in dangerous times. If we need to relinquish some of our personal freedoms and privacies to protect our country, we should all be prepared to do that.” A total 41 percent supported the statement “Even though we are living in dangerous times, Americans should not be forced to give up personal freedoms.”


Similarly, 53 percent agreed that the FBI should be allowed greater monitoring powers, while 43 percent did not.


“Our Founding Fathers couldn’t have anticipated the FBI or massive terror assaults with airplanes,” Wood said. “Nevertheless, it’s remarkable how the issues of 225 years ago continue to shape our public dialogue. The debate over the rights of the individual, radical for its time in the 18th century, preoccupies us to this day.”


Referendum on Current Issues


The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation survey canvassed 1,000 Americans across all ethnic, gender, regional and economic backgrounds. Other results include:


59 percent of respondents agreed with the statement “The U.S. Constitution should be interpreted as the Founding Fathers intended in order to preserve the core principles they stood for,” and 36 percent supported “The U.S. Constitution should be re-interpreted every generation or so in light of new social challenges and political realities.”


60 percent of respondents considered it appropriate to teach the Koran in American schools to broaden students’ understanding of worldviews, compared with 27 percent who considered such teachings inappropriate.


In an open-ended question, 56 percent of respondents cited “freedom” as the reason for “love of country,” followed by 15 percent who responded “because I’m American,” 10 percent who answered “it’s the best place to live” and 8 percent who replied “opportunities.” One percent of respondents cited “democracy” as the reason for “love of country.”


In an open-ended question, 21 percent of respondents said “being a good citizen” and an additional 21 percent cited “upholding the law” as their most “fundamental responsibility as an American citizen,” followed by 8 percent for “serve and support country,” 7 percent for “vote,” 6 percent for “morality” and 5 percent each for “helping the next generation” and “freedom.”


In terms of gender, men were more likely than women to believe that opportunity for economic advancement is important to them and their families, while women were more likely to cite freedom of religion and health care as most important to them and their families.


In terms of ethnicity, African Americans and Hispanics were more likely to identify opportunity for economic advancement and right to pursue an education as important for them and their families, while whites said affordable health care and freedom of speech are most important.


Survey Background


The survey, conducted by StrategyOne, polled the 1,000-person sample base by telephone June 7-14.

I receive the same type of slanted polls from one of the gun rights groups.  They only expect those that agree with them to get the polls in the mail.  Apparently, the NAACP thinks you are a liberal black person.

______________________________________________
[url=www.nra.org][b][red]NRA[/red][/url] [url=www.nra.org][blue]Life Member[/blue][/url]
[url=www.gunowners.org][b][red]GOA[/red] [/url] [url=www.gunowners.org][blue]Life Member[/blue][/url]
[url=www.saf.org][red]SAF[/red][/url] [url=www.saf.org][blue]Supporter[/blue][/url]
[url=sas-aim.org][red]SAS[/red][/url] [url=sas-aim.org][blue]Supporter[/blue][/b][/url]

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 offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; [red] [b]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;[/red][/b] nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
5th Amendment to U.S. Constitution


What about José Padilla's rights? He's the American citizen accused of trying to put together a dirty bomb for Al-Queda. He's been held incommunicado for over a year without so much as a hearing or legal represetation or even being charged with a crime.

It ain't just foreigners, bub!

If there are that many then they can rest assured that the .gov will give them that opportunity. Just a matter of time now.

Sorry, but the rights enumerated in the Constitution are not just rights that Americans have, they are rights granted to us by the gods, and they cover all peoples, no matter where they are from, no matter where they are living.  

That their respective governemnts do not recognize these enumerated rights are a matter that those peoples need to take up with their various governemnts.

i do this with credit card companies only with a twist. i take the coupons from local pizza placed and walmart ads and stuff it in the envelope.

been doing this for years.
grandpa showed me this.

Wacko....  Read statement #4.

As to said rights being given by god, The only rights granted by god are the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  The rights enumerated in the bill of rights are those agreed to to protect this nation from imperialism and invasion.