If we're afraid, the terrorists have won

Here in Illinois we have a new, almost empty, prison that costs taxpayers millions of dollars. If this is turned into a federal prison, with a small section used by the defense department to house Guantamo Bay prisoners, it will create sorely needed revenue for our state and create about 3,000 jobs in an economically depressed area.

The people living in the area are, for the most part, positive about the prospect.

The same Republican Party of George W. Bush is now appalled at the danger this will present, just as they equally tremble at the danger of holding a trial in New York. They are trying to convince us that the prospect of an opening statement by the accused terrorist would present a threat to our nation.

If they are correct, then we have already lost the war on terror. It has succeeded in terrifying us to the extent we are making decisions based on fear. How the terrorists must be rejoicing on the effect they have had on a major political party in the United States.

It is a sad commentary that we have reached the point where words or ideas potentially expressed in a court of law could frighten us so badly that we hesitate to hold a trial, or that we have so little confidence in our ability to incarcerate prisoners securely that we need to farm them out to foreign nations. Shame on the nutcases who have brought us to accept that kind of thinking.

Somehow, in recent years, political parties are being treated with the mindless loyalty that used to be reserved for sports teams. Now that is something that scares me to death.

Joan Conneely

Rolling Meadows