From attorney David Almaraz’s recent address before Gateway Rotary:
At present the greatest threat to the Constitution and to our great Democracy is the daily attack on our Rule of Law. Another is the disdain by the executive branch on the Separation of Powers.
The once proud D.O.J. is ridiculed on a daily basis. The CIA’s warnings are ignored. The Mueller report has determined that the 2016 election was attacked by a hostile foreign government (Russia) and that it will keep attacking the next presidential election. The White House remains in denial.
The second part of the Mueller report shows how the White House did everything in its power to shut down Mr. Mueller’s investigation and then ordered trusted aides to lie about that obstruction.
The nationwide racism and hatred of minorities has reared its ugly head. Occurrences of open hostility against all minorities has reached a point not seen since the 50s and 60s when segregation in schools and public facilities was the law of the land.
The fear of immigrants is stoked by those in power daily. The cruel and unconstitutional erection of tent cities to house children that have been separated from their families brings up images of totalitarian countries, not the beacon of liberty our country once was. Asylum seekers who have a legal right to apply for asylum because of credible fear of returning to their countries are being turned back without a hearing. We are seeing shocking pictures of children being held in cages/kennels, and we are being told that the White House is ordering that these children not be given an education or simple exercise. The harm that is being done to these children is irreparable and will haunt them for the rest of their lives. It is child abuse. For those who suggest that other administrations have committed similar violations in the past, I can only say: Two wrongs do not make a right. Whenever someone suggests that the previous administration was doing this, the ACLU can proudly point out that we sue all administrations that violate the Bill of Rights and human rights.
The state of civil liberties today is dire and eroding daily. Since day one of this administration, the independent judiciary has been attacked and ridiculed.
The bastion of democracy and part of the First Amendment, our Independent Press, is attacked as the “enemy of the people.” Voter fraud is miniscule, and yet this administration tries to suppress minority voting by illegal means and by gerrymandering.
I told my gracious hosts that our country would be far better off if every politician, state and federal, were a Rotarian and remembered their four-way test in their speech and actions.
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
In Liberty,
David Almaraz
