Crisis brings out best (Letters to the Editor, the Post & Courier, Charleston, SC, November 21, 2001)

A Monday letter to the editor asks where are the liberals and decided that neither Bill Clinton nor Al Gore would have risen to the occasion like President Bush.

The liberals are where the conservatives were on Dec. 8, 1941, in the summer of 1950 and the spring of 1965. They are united with their country and the leadership, irrespective of personal or party affiliations.

This is what all Americans do when confronted with foreign enemies.

We will never know how Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore would have responded, but I believe either man would have done us proud.

A crisis brings out the best in Americans (three liberals come to mind: Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy). I believe this is what has happened to President Bush, who was not expecting the challenge but has risen to meet it.

Liberals are still around as the voices against permanent curtailment of our freedoms.

Some of the security legislation recently passed by the Congress has a termination date, as well it should.

Legal advocates and scholars are challenging extended detention of suspects without the right to be brought before an open court and judge. The president signed an order authorizing secret trials before military tribunals, but we are a long way from conducting such proceedings.

It is necessary to remember that agreement by everyone with every little facet of government is not essential to our survival, nor is disagreement with one thing or another a sign of disloyalty. This is America, land of the liberals, conservatives and everyone in between.

FRANCIS X. ARCHIBALD
1128 John Rutledge Ave.
Hanahan
Visit my website
#18