"At a time of national crisis, I think it is particularly apparent that we need to encourage the study of our past. Our children and grandchildren-indeed, all of us-need to know the ideas and ideals on which our nation has been built. We need to understand how fortunate we are to live in freedom. We need to understand that living in liberty is such a precious thing that generations of men and women have been willing to sacrifice everything for it." said, Lynne V. Cheney on, October 5, 2001. Since the tragic unfolding of September 11th, America has created ways to protect our freedoms from further terrorist attacks; however, some claim the steps taken, to protect our freedoms, undermine our constitutional rights and freedoms in order to protect those same freedoms. Much criticism has passed over the speedily passed USA PATRIOT Act, and over the currently debated Homeland Security Act. Is America taking the right steps in its attempts at preventing terrorist attacks or is its latest anti-terrorism legislation only harming the American freedoms on its own?
             In Fall 2001, when it became apparent that anti-American terrorism was indeed a formidable threat, a general consensus was made that some sort of action should be taken to prevent further attacks on American freedom. The more difficult question was how to properly handle the prevention of terrorist threats affectively. One of the quickest pieces of legislation to be passed as a result was the USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism). The USA PATRIOT Act became law on October 26th, 2001 barely over a month after the 9/11 attacks. The large act was originally praised for the quickness the Bush Administration used in preparing it and getting it passed; however a growing number of people became worried about the wording of the act and the power it grants in its broadened ver...