Dec. 13, 2005
Hernando Today
After a torturous and prolonged ordeal, with all the power, resources and prestige of the government arrayed against him, a jury of his peers acquitted the former USF professor, Sami Al-Arian, on eight charges related to terrorism. The jury was unable to reach a decision on a number of others, reportedly due to a few diehard holdouts for conviction.

I suppose we may now assume that, though not generally applauded in our society, it will be, well, OK to be Moslem, OK to wear “funny” clothes, OK to be politically unpopular, and OK to support movements such as statehood for Palestine in the face of powerfully entrenched and moneyed interests in opposition.

Although my best wishes go to Al-Arian and his family, I must admit that they were not my primary concern during this challenge to our system of justice.

My primary concern was for my country.

Had America been poisoned by 9-11? Would the Patriot Act prevail over human rights and constitutional guarantees? Could the reverses of the war in Iraq profit from a coat of paint by cracking down on “terrorism” in the homeland? And however could the belligerent one-track flag-wavers be appeased by anything less than a verdict of guilty?

Then 12 ordinary citizens, chosen by lot, stepped up to the challenge, damned the pressures, and mustered the courage to save America. I am proud of them and much relieved.

Their verdict will be far from universally received. The super-patriots, in some vogue today, will say it places us in further danger of “terrorism” and will detract support from the war. Other enthusiasts contrarily will claim that the verdict just goes to show what a great country this really is.
I and some fellow quieter patriots are certainly relieved and simply quite satisfied that the jury gave us what we expect from America.

Rolf Norbom
Crystal River