Personal Privacy or National Security
Personal Privacy or National Security
William Shelton
ENG122: English Composition
Prof. Lisa Clark
August 7, 2012
Defining National Security VS Personal Privacy is a matter of looking at the basic nature of each. From research collected there is a consensus that we need balance. Too much of one hurts the other and vise versa. There are a couple of articles that range from Civil Liberties to the birth of public right to know that support the overall claim. Talks about the effects of censorship in different situations like war and peace will help prove that a balance needs to be forged. The problem here isn’t the definition of personal vs national security, but the survival of each in light of each other. There is history in our nation that explains why impinging on privacy may not be in the best interest of national security or of an individual. Also we will look at when it is appropriate for national security to impinge on personal privacy. You can’t have both without upsetting the balance of all. The claim is that too much national security will limit or demolish personal privacy. Also the same for too much personal privacy or liberty will limit or demolish security. So the question would be “does less personal privacy increase National Security?” My thesis is that too much National Security can destroy a government from the inside out by invading privacy. Democracy can’t trample on freedoms given the people for fear that a democracy no longer exists. “As Lee Strickland (2005) indicates, that ‘Civil liberties are not an obstacle; they’re a vital part of our strength. (P.1.)’” This creates a civil uprising that increases the national threat. It is human nature to inquire of forbidden practices. This is more so the case when laws designed to protect are exploited.
An example in recent time is the global war on terrorism or GWOT. The events of 9/11 in September of 2001 opened up panic that the government took advantage of. A short term plan of action is
William Shelton
ENG122: English Composition
Prof. Lisa Clark
August 7, 2012
Defining National Security VS Personal Privacy is a matter of looking at the basic nature of each. From research collected there is a consensus that we need balance. Too much of one hurts the other and vise versa. There are a couple of articles that range from Civil Liberties to the birth of public right to know that support the overall claim. Talks about the effects of censorship in different situations like war and peace will help prove that a balance needs to be forged. The problem here isn’t the definition of personal vs national security, but the survival of each in light of each other. There is history in our nation that explains why impinging on privacy may not be in the best interest of national security or of an individual. Also we will look at when it is appropriate for national security to impinge on personal privacy. You can’t have both without upsetting the balance of all. The claim is that too much national security will limit or demolish personal privacy. Also the same for too much personal privacy or liberty will limit or demolish security. So the question would be “does less personal privacy increase National Security?” My thesis is that too much National Security can destroy a government from the inside out by invading privacy. Democracy can’t trample on freedoms given the people for fear that a democracy no longer exists. “As Lee Strickland (2005) indicates, that ‘Civil liberties are not an obstacle; they’re a vital part of our strength. (P.1.)’” This creates a civil uprising that increases the national threat. It is human nature to inquire of forbidden practices. This is more so the case when laws designed to protect are exploited.
An example in recent time is the global war on terrorism or GWOT. The events of 9/11 in September of 2001 opened up panic that the government took advantage of. A short term plan of action is
References: Censorship. (2003) In Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications. Retrieved from http://credoreference.com/entry/estimc/censorship Civil Liberties and Security. (2008). In Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict. Retrieved from http://credoreference.com/entry/estpeace/civil_liberties_and_security Privacy vs Public Right to Know. (2003). In Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/estimc/privacy vs public right to know S. Olsen and E. Hansen. (2001). CNET News Privacy VS Safety Retrieved from http://news.cnet.com/2009-1023-272972.html L. Strickland. (2005). Without Civil Liberties Homeland Security Will Fail Retrieved from http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/archive/release.cfm?year=2005&ArticleID=1197