The Aftermath of 9/11

Thirteen years ago on September 11th , 2001 nearly 3,000 lives were lost when terrorists hijacked four planes, but what did we lose besides those 3,000 lives? We lost freedom. Freedom, the foundation of our country, and what many seek when they come to the United States, and a portion of that was lost in that tragedy thirteen years ago. The Patriot Act is the result of that tragedy and this Act is one which violates our rights as United States citizens. Starting with the Fourth Amendment, which states that the government can not conduct searches without a warrant and probable cause. Yet, with the Patriot Act the Government now no longer has to show probable cause, now “All the government needs to do is make the broad assertion that the request is related to an ongoing terrorism or foreign intelligence investigation”. Not only does it violate the fourth amendment, it also violates the first amendment by allowing the FBI to launch investigations for citizens exercising their freedom of speech. Surveillance orders can be started just based off of what someone is reading, websites that they have visited and even a letter that they have written to the an editor. Additionally violating the first amendment is by restricting freedom of speech by “prohibiting the recipients of search orders from telling others about those orders, even where there is no real need for secrecy.”. Not only that, but it violates many more of our rights as United States citizens. Overall, September 11th was a horrible day, and only made more devastating by our rights and amendments being violated by our own government.

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