Dreams: Some realized, some shattered, none forgotten

Today, August 28th marks the 43rd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech to a crowd of 200,000+ civil rights activists.



Tomorrow will mark the one year anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Both of these events are key in showing us the way forward.

One a unifying event of positive message and hope signifies dreams that can be realized. Many were.

However, the second event is, to this point, a tragic tale that shows us that dreams can be shattered and that dreams realized on paper do not always translate to real life.

None of the dreams will be forgotten though. With your help, we won't let them die but will dedicate ourselves to nurturing these dreams to a long and prosperous reality.

"BIG BROTHER" DEALT A BLOW BY FEDERAL JUDGE

NSA Wiretapping Ruled Unconstitutional and Ordered To Cease Operations

"All the President's men couldn't put this broken egg back together. At least not under the U.S. Constitution and rule of law," says ADA National Director Amy Isaacs.

A federal judge ruled that the Bush Administration's warrentless wiretapping program administered by the National Security Agency (NSA) was unconstitutional and ordered the program be ended immediately saying that the program violates basic rights to privacy and free speech.

In the 44-page memorandum, U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, ruled that the defendants "are permanently enjoined from directly or indirectly utilizing the Terrorist Surveillance Program (TSP) in any way, including, but not limited to, conducting warrantless wiretaps of telephone and Internet communications, in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Title III," and went further saying that the program "violates the separation of powers doctrine, the Administrative Procedures Act, the First and Fourth amendments to the United States Constitution, the FISA and Title III."

"This ruling is a resounding victory for citizens' rights and, conversely, another considerable blow to Bush Administration's covert attempt to wrest control of this country from citizens and their elected representatives in Congress," added Isaacs.