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The Communitarian Update
Number 42
December 13, 2001
Tell us what you think!
Assume terrorists have exploded a nuclear device and killed most inhabitants of a major American city and
turned it into a Chernobyl-like radioactive desert. We are unsure who is behind it although we have our
suspicions. What should we do? Please let us know if we may quote your response in future updates and how
you wish to be identified. Reply to comnet@gwu.edu
In Washington We Trust?
Nearly 60 percent of Americans say they trust the federal government to do what is right just about always
or most of the time according to a recent survey conducted by NPR news, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Only 29 percent felt that way in June 2000. 75 percent of Republicans
and 53 percent of Democrats agree with that statement; in June 2000, those numbers were 18 percent and 40
percent, respectively. 64 percent of Americans favor military tribunals for non-citizens suspected of
terrorism. Americans demonstrated overwhelming support for giving law enforcement broader authority to wiretap
telephones (69 percent in favor), intercept email (72 percent), and examine people's Internet activity
(82 percent). Available at:
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/civillibertiespoll/011130.poll.html
Posner on Rights
"What we take to be our civil liberties . . . were made legal rights by the Constitution and other enactments.
The other enactments can be changed relatively easily, by amendatory legislation. Amending the Constitution is
much more difficult. In recognition of this the Framers left most of the constitutional provisions that confer
rights pretty vague. The courts have made them definite. Concretely, the scope of these rights has been
determined . . . by a weighing of competing interests. . . . [The public-safety interest and the liberty
interest] are both important, and their relative importance changes from time to time and from situation
to situation." --Richard A. Posner, "Security versus Civil Liberties" (Atlantic Monthly, December 2001)
Volunteering
Go to the AmeriCorps web site to find out about opportunities for volunteering in your area!
http://www.americorps.gov/
ID Cards are coming?
59 percent of respondents favored requiring everyone in the United States to carry an identification
card issued by the federal government while 38 percent opposed it in a recent survey. Those who favored
a national identification card were asked what information they would favor having on it. Ninety-six
percent favored a photograph; 88 percent were in favor of fingerprints; 59 percent favored religious
affiliation; 73 percent favored criminal record information; and 64 percent were in favor of DNA
information on the card. (NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation/ Kennedy School of Government National Survey
on Civil Liberties) Available at:
http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/civil_liberties/index.html
Brits vs. Taliban?
The Economist claims that British public services are "Tougher than the Taliban" in an article in the
November 24, 2001 issue.
Civil Rights and Public Safety
Heightened tensions between civil rights and public safety following the tragic events of September 11
are explored in the Winter 2001/02 issue of The Responsive Community. This winter issue was published
earlier than usual in order to provide readers with timely and critical communitarian analysis of topics
ranging from immigration to racial profiling to freedom of the press after 9/11. Free copies of the
Winter 2001/02 issue are currently available and can be requested by calling 1-800-245-7460 or emailing
comnet@gwu.edu
Not so united?
The Rev. David Benke, after participating in an interfaith ceremony at Yankee Stadium, was accused of
heresy. Other clergy members have accused Benke of "syncretism," which means promoting the view that all
religions are equal. A petition against Benke called his role in the New York ceremony "an egregious
offense against the love of Christ" that gave "the impression that the Christian faith is just one among
many by which people may pray to God."
Become an endorser!
Show you're proud to be a communitarian by reading and endorsing our platform. Go to our web site:
http://www.communitariannetwork.org. Recent endorsers include Janell Sueltz an educator from Centennial,
CO, Richard Piel, Jr. a police lieutenant from Baltimore, and Annelies Verstichel from New York City.
A Rumsfeld Pearl
"If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it" Donald Rumsfeld observed in Parade
Magazine.
Limits expected
Asked "Would you support new laws to strengthen security measures against terrorism, even if that meant
reducing privacy protections such as limits on government searches and wiretapping?" 78 percent said
they would support new laws. (NBC/Wall Street Journal, 9/15-16/2001) Asked "Do you think Americans will
have to give up some of their personal freedoms in order to make the country safe from terrorist
attacks?" 74 percent said yes. (CBS News/New York Times, 9/13-14/2001)
Public Health Dialogue - Tape Available
Communitarian dialogue on the past, present, and future of public health in the United States, with a
particular focus on the role of the public health system in responding to bioterrorism with Professors
Alan M. Kraut, Thomas Burke, and Fitzhugh Mullan, MD. A videotape of the dialogue, filmed at the National
Press Club, is available from the Communitarian Network for $11.00. Use our online order form:
http://www.gwu.edu/~ccps/order.html
Send us news!
Send communitarian new items to comnet@gwu.edu
Subscribe to the Responsive Community
Visit The Responsive Community on our web: http://www.gwu.edu/~ccps/rcq If you would like to receive a
FREE sample of our publication for yourself or your organization, please let us know at comnet@gwu.edu,
or call (800) 245-7460. Same--to subscribe.
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