In defence of America

In lessons this week we have been discussing how well the UK and USA protect civil liberties in a comparative sense. This of course is a hugely controversial subject—and one which would be covered even more widely if it weren’t for the economic and banking crisis. Anyway in trying to stimulate thought on this I have found myself referring back frequently to an article I read by Andrew Sullivan at the weekend.

Sullivan starts of by saying:

“America can drive you up the wall. To Europeans and world-weary Brits, it can sometimes seem almost barmy in its backwardness. It is a country where one state, Arkansas, has just refused to repeal a statute barring atheists from holding public office but managed in the same session to pass a law allowing guns in churches. It incarcerates a higher percentage of its population than even Russia and aborts more babies per capita than secular Europe.”

Doesn’t look like a very good defence, does it? Well read the rest of the article here and see what you think.

I won’t prejudice (excuse the pun) it by telling you my thoughts on this, but it should help create a different response from the one which normally bangs on just about the US Supreme Court whenever the question is raised about civil liberties protection in the USA.