AAPS Members Respond to Civil Liberties Coalition

Times of tragedy and war naturally bring out strong emotions in all of us. Yet we must be careful to preserve personal liberty and privacy rights in the months ahead. Sometimes the people are only too anxious to sacrifice their constitutional liberties during a crisis, hoping to gain some measure of security. Yet nothing would please the terrorists more than if we willingly gave up some of our cherished liberties because of their actions.

--Congressman Ron Paul , MD, lifetime member of AAPS

As a long time member of AAPS, appreciating your non-wavering stance of defending the best of our traditional practice of our profession, AND a member of the ACLU- who believes that the Bill Of Rights is the Bedrock of our national character, I applaud your flexibility in forming coalitions when appropriate- and in these troubled times, we must all unite to defend the BEST of America.

Please let's stick to the patient-physician thing.

While all would agree with a calm response, I am amazed that nothing was said that our nation was attacked! For a variety of reasons, we all respond differently to being accosted/attacked. Some would choose to assume a fetal position and prevent further blows. Others would choose to hit back. The reality is that we will never know which position is the best response.

The facts we know:

1. There are terrorists who are well funded and capable of massive destruction.

2. They have attacked in the past, they have attacked Israel on a regular basis, and have stated they will attack us again.

3. War is terrible but has been a part of our existence since the beginning of time

4. We can stop some of the attacks but will never stop all of them.

It seems as though the AAPS position implies that any further attacks on the US by terrorists will be the result of an aggressive response on the part of the US government. Our country will never go back to the secure position we had in the past. A national ID card will not assure safety any more than any of the other documents that have been falsified. A national card is one step closer to national health care.

I would encourage all to pray for wisdom, work towards unity, and realize that regardless of what we do, terrorists will strike again.

I joined the AAPS because it appeared to be an alternative voice for its members - alternative to the AMA. If you are going to meddle in non-medical politics in such a way that I cannot support, I will have to reconsider my support of the organization.

I have tolerated the wimpy attitude of the organization on prolife issues such as Physician Assisted Suicide, abortion and the embryonic stem cell controversy, because I thought that you were focusing on a more limited political advocacy. This sort of action makes me question my assumptions. If you want my money to use as you see fit, I will not support you.

I am real antsy about any siding with the ACLU.

Great idea! Thanks

right on!. I have feared this whole scenario is a coup d'etat for the New World Order.

I am full agreement with your support of the ACLU. Perhaps you could, at a later time, point out to the ACLU the loss of civil rights that is occurring with the current abuse of peer review of doctors.

Many thanks for the news. I endorse Dr. Orient's position and add that the curtailment of civil rights and freedom of the press plus the "war" would provide the enemy with a greater success for their mission.