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Overreaction Then (Korematsu) And Now (The Detainee Cases), Fritz Snyder, Geri Fox

Geri Fox

Overreacting to tragic events leads to even more tragedy. When it is the government which overreacts, individual constitutional rights can vanish. The fear, anger, and patriotism engendered during a war or by a terrorist attack can Aundermine the capacity of individuals and institutions to make clearheaded judgments about risk, fairness, and danger .... Reason and logic vanish. It is difficult to make calm, balanced decisions in a state of personal anxiety, outrage, or passion. Overreaction occurs, and individual rights disappear. Even the United States Supreme Court can get swept away. This article uses the Korematsu case as a case study …