President Bush has recently proposed a new plan for military trials for suspected terrorists.

In his proposal, certain legal rights are being withheld.

We are all aware of the threat that terrorists have on modern society.

But as a free and democratic society, should we not honor the tenets of blind justice?

Should we ignore the fundamental principles of a fair trial?

The provisions of the Bush plan for military trials include allowing evidence obtained by coercion to be used against the suspected terrorists, and not allowing the suspected terrorists (defendants) to see evidence that will be used against them at trial.

Many legal experts have serious concerns about the new plan, saying that the plan goes against fundamental ideals of American jurisprudence. Furthermore, under the Bush plan, these new rules will be contrary to American and International law.

As Americans, do we want to internalize and project hatred against the terrorists who hate us?

Americans should be proud that in spite of terrorist agendas or their purported plans, all accused terrorists will get a fair trial.

America cannot win the “war on terrorism” by being unlawful and ignoring the principles of justice which govern American society.

America has ignored the calls of Lady Justice before because of hatred: slavery, Jim Crow, and Japanese concentration camps; let us not repeat our sordid past by not affording the same rights under the law to alleged terrorists.

We should not allow the President to use demagoguery in an effort to stifle justice and order. America is a nation of laws.

We cannot allow the fear of terrorism to shake us from treating all people with equality under the law.

Let America finally live up to the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

- Benjamin Harris is a 3rd year law student at NCCU