|
|
|
State News Release |
Home | Press | State Press |
| The Iowa Green Party: Independence Day |
|
Thursday, June 26, 2003. IOWA GREEN PARTY IOWA CITY - "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain," declares Iowa's official motto. More than just a statement of principle, though, it is a reminder of the duty of each Iowan to maintain vigilance over constitutional freedoms. The Iowa Green Party understands that those include personal liberty, freedom from discrimination, the right to privacy and the opportunity for free political choice. Unfortunately, while terms like "freedom" and "independence" enjoy great popularity as politicians' rhetorical bunting, their realness to citizens in daily life is increasingly under attack: The Bush Administration's indifference to -- if not outright hostility toward -- citizen liberty is evidenced by its exploitation of legitimate fears of terrorism. With passage of the U.S. Patriot Act (and the threatened extension of it), decades of important gains for citizen freedom in the areas of personal autonomy and constitutional protections were obliterated, as if by a conservative Weapon of Mass Destruction. That rollback of popular liberty was made possible in part by the support of members of Iowa's delegation to Congress. All of whom will nonetheless surely be making statements of claimed endorsement for the very constitutional liberties against whose interests they have voted. Given that lack of legislative protection and liberty's own imperative, the Iowa Green Party hails the communities (21+) around the country that have passed resolutions condemning the Patriot Act and reaffirming support for citizen freedoms. Hopefully, many Iowa cities and towns will be joining their number. And we recently voted to endorse the July 4 action in Philadelphia. Organized by numerous social and political groups, it will express popular opposition to militarism, discrimination and official assaults on civil liberties. Also included will be a protest of that day's local appearance by President George Bush, who is set to speak in the National Constitution Center, which is said to be built atop the graves of slaves. The Iowa Green Party believes that new citizen activism is needed to protect rights and freedoms. New threats demand it. Just as new political parties are necessary to give citizens genuine choice in direction and representation. We encourage Iowans of all political affiliations to recommit themselves to the cause of Independence. The public interest needs constant protection. Sincerely,
|
|
Home | Press | State Press |
