Letter in Response to Eye on Earth Column

This letter is in response to the Sept. 11 column Eye on Earth, by Ana Velitchkova.

I would suggest that Ms. Velitchkova take her eye off the Earth for a moment and examine her sources. Claims made in the column that the U.S.

PATRIOT Act allows for warrant-less searches of private residences are wholly false. The only change made to such searches by the PATRIOT Act is that notification of the subjects of such searches can be delayed.

These so called "sneak and peek" searches still require a search warrant and can only be conducted if certain extreme circumstances are demonstrated to a judge.

I hereby challenge Ms. Velitchkova to point out any portion of the PATRIOT Act that allows for such warrant-less searches. I would also point out that the PATRIOT Act allows for many noble policies that have no correlations to law enforcement at all. Such policies include expedited payment of benefits to the families of public safety officers killed during the execution of duties related to fighting terrorism.

I would also submit that Ms. Velichtkova's argument against the use of the word crusade was entirely without merit. While I concede that such terminology might cause discomfort to some citizens, I wholeheartedly defy the notion that discomforting words should be stricken from the English language.

In so doing we would deny ourselves the use of any words at all because all words can have negative connotations or cause negative feelings. The word "war" for example might cause discomfort in the hearts of anyone who has ever been involved in one.

I would humbly submit that our leaders should pay no attention to the possible discomfort caused by their words and simply call things what they are.

Darren Odom, senior in computer science

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