Common Sense Approach To Security vs Privacy

Unknown to many ordinary citizens, local and national officials have implemented the use of audio and video surveillance to combat everything from crime, speeding, and terrorist communications. But as usual with all good intentions, there are a few individuals that cry "foul" and claim invasion of privacy. There is a fine line between privacy and security and this is where common sense should prevail. This poses the question. Do we want to be protected or do we want the criminals and terrorists to prevail and we lose all our rights?

My Dad once told me that during WWII we lost some of our rights to privacy. The American people at that time didn’t mind because everyone was in support of the war. His congressman at the time explained the importance of wartime censorship and if not implemented could cause irreparable harm in the form of demoralizing our troops and encouragement to our enemies. After the war, all rights and civil liberties were reinstated. Unlike today where reporters are insensitive to the impact they may cause, as long as they get their sensational scoop. One example comes to mind and that is when TIME magazine reported the flushing of Korans down the toilet. This was a totally manufactured story and the damage to our troops morale was devastating.

Another example of so-called invasion of privacy are the surveillance cameras at airports that feed profiling systems. Profiling individuals based on dress and ethnicity seems to be a common sense approach. After all, the terrorists on 9/11 all had the same look about them so why not profile people of that ethnical background? This goes along with another complaint by many people about the security cameras that are mounted at busy intersections in most big cities. Individuals feel intimidated and presume that the government is watching every move they make. Why is that? It’s very difficult to understand, when the very people who complain about the monitoring are the first to complain if something drastic occurs. Pre-emptive measures are needed in order to prevent future tragedies.

We as Americans should treasure and protect our privacy and civil rights. On the other hand shouldn’t we pursue a safer environment through surveillance and audio monitoring? The value of surveillance is immeasurable and therefore people need to make a choice. No matter what side of the argument you’re on, a reasonable compromise needs to be reached. And, as in WWII, some personal sacrifices may indeed need to be made.

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