This letter is a response to the column by Ayrel Clark, titled “Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of liberty: Bush pirates rights” (Sept. 24).

If you’re so opposed to this act, why aren’t you opposed to the airline industry? Have you ever gone through an airport, through the security, even before Sept. 11?

If you did, you would have noticed yourself putting a bag through a little X-ray machine. Isn’t that giving up your right to privacy?

It is – but it is to protect the safety of others. A right millions of travelers willingly give up to fly safe.

Anyone opposed to this Patriot Act is a hypocrite if they’ve voluntarily flown an airplane.

You don’t have to like this act, but realize that the government isn’t just going to go door to door one day and say “Hello sir/ma’am, you’re the lucky winner of our random house search day!”

No, action will be taken only on credible intelligence from the Homeland Security Dept., the CIA, or the FBI.

We need to support the President on this one – and not turn it into a political fight. There were powers taken away from Nixon in the ’70s, that were the president’s for 200 years prior, which lessened the equal powers. I think it’s time to give the person who leads this country something back.

It’s not like the president will be a dictator after this bill, which most people are acting like.

Democrats, and others as well, need to be more open-minded to this idea.

After all, we Republicans do come up with great ideas; we need to be able to let this country move forward with them.

Michael Dale

Sophomore

LAS Open

Chairman, ISU College Republicans