Letter to the Editor:

Fearing for American lives and national security during WWII, President Roosevelt unconstitutionally imprisoned citizens, mostly Japanese Americans. Although the majority were of legal status, having established lives and paid taxes, they were rounded up in 1943 and forced into detention centers. A 1944 Supreme Court decision upheld FDR’s Executive Order 9066 ordering the internment. Upon release in 1945, many detainees had lost everything and were expected to rebuild with a $25.00 government-issued compensation. President Reagan issued a formal government apology in 1988, calling the internment unconstitutional and committing it to history.

Our nation is again experiencing an overwhelming sense of fear following domestic tragedies. Though that is natural, we are committing mistakes by accepting incremental destruction of our God-given rights, as done in 1943. Many states are protecting citizens by nullifying new federal laws – but, not Connecticut!

FDR promised protection from fear in his 1941 speech by introducing the term “Freedom From Fear”, which is not in our Constitution. The voting majority of Connecticut condemn us all, repeatedly electing politicians promising to legislate “Freedom from Fear”. Legislation of “Freedom From Fear” is impossible. Every attempt to do so chips away at our liberties – a shame for The Constitution State!

Rita Conrad