Letter: Tribalism, liberty and the Constitution

Wednesday, July 5, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

Hal Rothman's July 2 commentary, regarding individual freedom that appears to have supplanted individual responsibility, is right on, but he also touched on another more pervasive issue that is affecting our lives.

The grouping or collective beliefs of individuals is in effect what is undermining our Constitution and the separation of powers. Grouping, or on a more primitive level, tribalism, is a false means to escape from the fear that is driving the group. Take for instance current discussion of the separation of church and state that Brittany McComb's valedictory speech has created. In a sense, the Constitution and the separation of church and state is the religious right's perceived enemy, for it does not allow them to elevate their message from a government body.

We are all very conscious of the power a message carries if it appears to be sanctioned by a governing body, and attempting to make this an issue of free speech is a subterfuge. But my point here is to make aware that a body, a group or a tribe will ignore and destroy the very thing that gives it life because they are acting out of fear. Fear takes away, or covers up, our innate intelligence. It covers up any source of a deeper intelligence or wisdom we may have, and thus the proclivity toward self-destruction. The will to live of a virus that kills its host is a similar force. It always amazed me that a virus or bacteria would kill the body that gives it life.

What amazes me more is the ability of the body to neutralize the virus or bacteria when the individual who encounters the illness or disease does not enter a state of fear. The Republicans' use of their legislative and executive powers is another prime example.

The Constitution is cleverly being shredded under the guise of security even though the Republican Party is destroying the very thing that gives it power. How to get the individual to accept responsibility is the key to alleviating this cancer, because without the individuals, there is no tribe.

Hal Seeley, North Las Vegas