Freedom vs. Security

Our discussion about freedom versus security is not only a controversial issue in Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, but also in real life and in general. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those who give up freedom for security deserve neither.” He makes a valid point, but unfortunately if we keep every single one of our freedoms intact, our security may be lacking, or vice versa. However, our freedoms should never be put in jeopardy in order to catch terrorists. More Americans kill each other daily than any terrorists. The terrorists do it in greater numbers, maybe, but if we really want to keep our citizens safe, more domestic laws are mandatory, not necessarily tighter security on airplanes and in federal buildings. However, if we intend to keep our citizens safe in the air or on the ground, the laws already in place seem to be doing their jobs rather well. (We caught that Fruit of the Boom guy!) But there are times when our policies do not work so well. If we allow our government to do what they did in Little Brother (that is, treat innocent civilians who happen to be protesting against the government spying on its people like terrorists) would be just plain wrong. By tightening security and scaring people, we’re just allowing the terrorists to win. Even if we do find, capture, kill, or whatever we want to do to the terrorists that performed these appalling deeds, the fact is that we’re never going to get back the people who died. Catching the terrorists and killing them isn’t going to bring them back. It may pacify our desires for revenge, but if that means allowing the government to treat thousands of people daily like “enemy combatants”, I say no way. If, today, a terrorist attack occurred on American soil, of course it would be tragic. Of course it would be horrific and shocking. But it doesn’t necessarily indicate a weakness in our country’s defenses. People are always going to find a way around the law. People who want to kill people passionately enough will always invent a new substance or find a way around airport security. All we can do is try to prevent them from coming here, and only to a certain degree. We all know how annoying airport security is. But, personally, I don’t feel all that much safer just because my Arab name makes the staff at security eye me more carefully. There are more American terrorists who have killed Americans than Afghan terrorists or Libyan terrorists or any other terrorists you can think of. Maybe not all at once, but definitely more frequently. Little Brother illustrates this argument when Charles, a student in the main character Marcus’ class, stands up for the government surveillance in every room, every hallway, every street, every Internet connection. He believes it is keeping us safe, and that those trying to stop it are terrorists themselves. Marcus simply recites a section of the Declaration of Independence that states that when a power has become corrupt, the people have a right to overthrow it. Maybe it’s because I live in America, but I believe everyone deserves the right to live in a country without being watched. People should have that freedom, regardless of terrorists. If we take that away, the terrorists are just going to do their jobs, and they’ll be winning.