Shifting images of liberty
by Lital Shair
News | 1/22/08
Posted online at 3:57 AM EST on 1/22/08
/ Last updated at 10:49 PM EST on 1/22/08
"Anti-Americanism abroad is a serious threat to American national security," said Raz, who asked Levin how legislators would translate that danger into legislation that would alleviate the issue. "Please do not assume that there will not be an effort" to implement policy, Levin responded, saying that such efforts would be thwarted by presidential vetoes and extensions of presidential power beyond what is enumerated in the Constitution.
A student asked if there were ever any situations in which desperate times would call for the curtailment of civil liberties. Levin responded that there is no absolute law regarding this philosophical issue, but that "Government officials should be subject to the same rules of conduct as should citizens."
"You could give me a circumstance … in which I might try and take the law into my own hands," but "the law should hold me accountable," Levin said. "There's no accountability in this administration," he continued. "There's cover-up, there's protection," and laws are passed to protect those who take the law into their own hands, he said.
Levin then responded to student questions from the audience. In response to a question about how to stop American exploitation overseas, Levin said, "We want the Iraqi national government to make decisions regarding allocation of resources" and not regional governments or oil companies.
Ron Kendler '09 asked what Americans can do to restore morality for armed service veterans returning home. "We are going to end this … system where we treat our returning soldiers with less than they deserve," Levin answered.
Students seemed positive about Levin's presentation for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. "I hope that what he actually said he wants to do is implemented," said Nathaniel Rosenblum '10.
"It was definitely an interesting take on the Martin Luther King Day," Emily Frost '10 said, as the event was about looking at human rights issues and taking them to an international scale.
A student asked if there were ever any situations in which desperate times would call for the curtailment of civil liberties. Levin responded that there is no absolute law regarding this philosophical issue, but that "Government officials should be subject to the same rules of conduct as should citizens."
"You could give me a circumstance … in which I might try and take the law into my own hands," but "the law should hold me accountable," Levin said. "There's no accountability in this administration," he continued. "There's cover-up, there's protection," and laws are passed to protect those who take the law into their own hands, he said.
Levin then responded to student questions from the audience. In response to a question about how to stop American exploitation overseas, Levin said, "We want the Iraqi national government to make decisions regarding allocation of resources" and not regional governments or oil companies.
Ron Kendler '09 asked what Americans can do to restore morality for armed service veterans returning home. "We are going to end this … system where we treat our returning soldiers with less than they deserve," Levin answered.
Students seemed positive about Levin's presentation for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. "I hope that what he actually said he wants to do is implemented," said Nathaniel Rosenblum '10.
"It was definitely an interesting take on the Martin Luther King Day," Emily Frost '10 said, as the event was about looking at human rights issues and taking them to an international scale.
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Brianna
posted 1/22/08 @ 11:57 AM EST
this story was the best that i've read (on the internet) in a while.
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