Another victory was handed to the Wisconsin Innocence Project last week. Leaving law school and moving out into the legal profession, I have to say I had no greater honor than working for Keith Findley and John Pray at the Wisconsin Innocence Project. They continue to show the residents of Wisconsin that justice does not come easily, and the best system is one that is watched closely.

I can’t easily articulate how important to me the pursuit of justice is, even when I’m not sure about the innocence of the person I might be representing. In my view, it isn’t about the guilt or innocence of the person involved. It’s about the process conforming to the standards of fairness we decide. It’s about playing by the rules and giving everybody the same set of standards. The second you cut corners for a person you know in your heart of hearts is guilty, you contaminate the entire justice system.

What drives me crazy about many conservatives in our country is their willingness to shortcut the justice system in favor of what they feel is the expedient solution. That’s the whole point behind the “sneak-and-peek” warrants authorized by the Patriot Act that made right-thinking people rather paranoid. It was decided that when it came to terrorists, cutting corners on the Constitution was acceptable.

It isn’t. No matter what sort of “war” America is in right now, abusing the Constitution isn’t worth the victory. When I mentioned last week that our generation’s vigilance is what it takes to keep America from sliding backward, this is what I was talking about.

Whether it’s the insistence intelligent design is a rational or acceptable form of science (it’s not), or that terrorists and detainees don’t need rights under the Geneva Convention (they do), or that big business should be unfettered from those pesky safety and environmental regulations (they shouldn’t), keep your eyes peeled for anyone insisting oversight is unnecessary.

Our country went through years of unfettered capitalism and justice. It was not pretty. Lynchings, poisoned meat, a corrupt justice system and an oligarchy of wealth are not what America is about. We are about opportunity, a level playing field and freedom — just about everything many conservatives are actively working against in this country.

When Tom DeLay calls the currently toothless EPA the Gestapo, you realize we’ve reached some strange twilight zone of demagoguery. There is no way to win an argument with a side that refuses to be rational, and, as philosopher and scientist Richard Dawkins points out, there is absolutely nothing rational about the current crop of conservatives running our country.

I’m not sure after two-and-a-half years of writing this column that I’ve ever convinced someone who desperately disagrees with me that I’m right. How or why would my mere words shake the foundations of someone’s tightly held beliefs? If God tells you homosexuality is wrong, being rich is a right and inferior people (read: anyone who isn’t just like you) are worthy of contempt, who am I — opinion writer for a college rag — to state otherwise?

Well, I’m someone who thinks I have to try to make a difference — otherwise, my existence is rather meaningless. I write for the paper for this reason. I register people to vote for this reason. I want people involved as much as possible for this reason. And I’m going to be a lawyer for this reason.

I want you to care, and, if possible, agree with me. If not, then listen. If I’m totally full of it, walk away.

In the end, the best we can all hope for is a country of people who think for themselves. I’m utterly convinced the liberal movement in this country will reign supreme. It is preferable over any other such organization I can imagine.

Anyone in favor of prejudice, repression, fear and war has, as far as I’m concerned, a hate-filled heart. Those people will eventually be outnumbered by people who think carefully about their choices and actions. These people will care about the environment, care about parity between the sexes, races, religions, creeds, orientations and viewpoints.

Intolerance is a disease I hope to see eradicated by the American dream.

It’s a pie-in-the-sky world I believe in, and one I’m willing to fight for.

This education is the biggest weapon in your arsenal. Don’t be afraid to use it.

I’ve been here for just shy of a decade, and it’s been a beautiful ride.

Take care, Madison.

Rob Deters ([email protected]) is a third-year law student.