Modern-Day Situation

            In Antigone, Creon states that the well-being (both the safety and security) of the state comes before the rights of the individual. This is why he is able to have Antigone ordered to death for speaking out against the law. Antigone buried her brother when Creon clearly stated that he was not to be buried in order to be an example to others on what would happen if they betrayed their country. Creon believes that he can violate her rights if it puts his country out of danger.

            Even though this play was written over 2,400 years ago this position is still debated about today in modern times. Recently, because of the acts of terrorism, many people’s rights have been violated. For example, at security checkpoints people must have their belongings checked and they have to surrender their rights at the airport. People’s calls can be wired and the government is allowed to listen to them if they would like or find something suspicious. The government is also allowed to check suspicious mail and can open it if they want to. Nowadays, the government knows more about you than ever. 

            People are outraged by this because they don’t feel like the government should be violating their rights and that we should be able to have our privacy. There are other governments in the world who openly violate people’s rights without reason, but these are often communists and are not a democracy, like the US is. However on the other hand, many argue that our government is not violating people’s rights, but instead is keeping us safe. They believe that our country is the most important and they would rather be safe as opposed to not having the government know anything about everything therefore making us more vulnerable to another terrorist or another kind of attack.

This is not the only time people’s rights have been violated due to a war. During the 1940s during World War II a vast majority of people were afraid of the Japanese and therefore the government took action and put Japanese people (even if they were only half or a quarter) into internment camps. This was an obvious violation of rights because people were forced to separate from their homes, neighborhoods, friends, etc. They were also forced to do manual labor and be isolated and discriminated against. Also, more recently the issue of torture has been brought up because of Guantamo Bay (where terrorists are held without trials).

             So these days the question is…is it really right to violate people’s rights in order to protect the safety and security of a state or country? Are there different measures of violating people’s rights? Does it really matter if the government goes through our belongings, listens to our phone calls, or goes through our mail? Because if we have nothing to hide, what is everyone afraid of? If there are people in the world who are trying to destroy my country then I openly believe that our government is allowed to go through our property. If there is nothing for us to hide why should it matter? I personally would rather be safe with some violations of my privacy taken away (I’m used to this since I live with my parents…) rather than being dead or harmed with none of my private property being touched or messed with. (561)