By Andy McMillen
The Shorthorn
February 14, 2003

Two weeks ago, Tahir Ibrihim Aletewi was a University of Texas-Arlington graduate student, attending classes and battling the books for the grades. He was to receive his master's degree in May.

This week, he was to be deported to Jordan. (The Immigration and Naturalization Service did not return calls to determine if Aletewi was deported this week.)

It is uncertain Aletewi broke any laws.

As far as we know, he made no threats, he conspired in no plots and he built no bombs. But in post-9/11 America, just admitting to certain thoughts can be enough to change your world forever.

A week ago, U.S. Immigration Judge D. Anthony Rogers ordered Aletewi deported (within five days) based on an FBI interview in which he allegedly said that possible U.S. military action in Iraq had revived thoughts of being a martyr, The Shorthorn reported Tuesday. You can be deported for what you think, even if you never do a single thing wrong.

This action tells us where we are headed as a nation.

First: From now on, be careful what you do or say and to whom you speak. "Big Brother" is watching and listening. Anything you say can and will be used against you. If "Big Brother" chooses, even if you don't say anything criminal your words will be twisted and you will be told what you meant.

The thought police are armed and dangerous.

No, Aletewi was not a U.S. citizen, so many will say that he has no rights. Sadly, the fear-driven majority would probably say he was our guest and that we don't need a reason to deport him.

Once we start backtracking from our principles of freedom of speech for all, being a U.S. citizen will not be enough. If you are willing to give up someone else's rights, be assured many others are willing to give up yours. When mass fear takes root, reason loses.

Your only chance will be to keep your mouth shut. Your citizenship will not be enough to save you -- just as the Bill of Rights was not enough to guarantee Tahir Ibrihim Aletewi his freedom of speech.

Second, this deportation and the mindset behind it demonstrates that we are retreating from our position as an icon of freedom. No longer are we striving to be a hope for mankind, a people to be envied for our freedom, not just our SUVs and large green lawns.

We seem to have quit caring about our place in the hearts of the rest of the world and in history.

We have probably created a lifelong enemy. Think about what Aletewi is saying to his friends and family today. Chances are it's not about how free and open this country is. It's more likely about the climate of fear that he lived in and the aura of conformity that has become our new standard of correctness.

Those who think Aletewi lost and the United States won are accurate in one sense: Aletewi lost his chance for a master's degree from UTA, and America won an enemy.

In the end, America lost more.

(C) 2002 The Shorthorn via U-WIRE