While all of America was occupied this month with pursuing gun control and celebrating Christmas, the U.S. Senate voted 81 to 14 to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2013.

On the surface it would appear this was a routine extension of the earlier NDAA-nothing to be overly concerned about. Yet, the final version grants the power to the President to detain and imprison indefinately U.S. citizens deemed to be a terrorist risk by our military, Homeland Security, the President and staff-even local authorities! Where will this stop? Whatever happened to the U.S. Constitution, and due process for ever citizen, the right to face ones accusers in a court of law?

We continue to pay a heavy, heavy price in fall out from 9/11.

At the same time we continue to elect weak minded leaders who place a higher value on their personal political future than the freedom and liberty of their fellow Americans!

We cannot continue to timidly accept this continued abusive grab for power under the guise of the Patriot Act, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), or any other title!

While we seem preoccupied with going off the proverbial fiscal cliff, we should be equally concerned about becoming a nation of sheep blindly following our “leaders” off a cliff of a loss of our freedom.

Stay awake, pay attention and speak out.

Our founding father would be disappointed with anything less! Meanwhile, all that NDAA for 2013 needs for enactment is President Obama’s signature!

James W. Anderson

Talladega