Pubdate: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 Source: Decatur Daily (AL) Copyright: 2002 The Decatur Daily Contact: http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/696 Author: Nancy Gillespie LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL IS A MYTH The Decatur Daily: As a child, I recited the Pledge of Allegiance with pride. I believed that in the United States of America, we had something no other country had: liberty and justice for all. As an adult, I have continued to believe that our local system of law and order upheld these principles -- whether black or white, rich or just getting by, for drug addicts as well as doctors and lawyers. My idealism has been crushed now that I realize that law enforcement is selective; liberty and justice for those who are chosen. Yes, I know that some situations require a judgment call, but it is clear that in Morgan County, Ala., a doctor may not be held to the same laws as the little man and that's called "officer discretion"; while self-professed drug dealers are not investigated under the "if nobody complains, we can look the other way" rule. What can we, the people, do about it? We must not remain silent. We must voice these unfair and unjust circumstances to our local officials. We should remind each other that our government was intended to be "of the people, by the people and for the people" -- all the people. Nancy Gillespie Decatur - --- MAP posted-by: Beth