The power of privacy

New York Times reporter Judith Miller didn't commit a crime. She didn't kill anyone, steal from any store, she didn't sell drugs to children and she didn't abuse children. Yet, Judith Miller is in jail. She's in jail for not revealing her source to a federal grand jury.\nStepping aside from the whole Karl Rove saga, Judith Miller is on the sidelines (literally) as she is in jail. She is not revealing her sources which possibly lead to the leak of an undercover operative for the Central Intelligence Agency. I watch "Alias" and yes, I know how important the CIA is. The agency is responsible for getting information that is vital to protecting our country. Taking one step farther back, this is about a reporter keeping a secret confidential.\nMiller is using the power of the First Amendment, the freedom of the press and using its ideals to continue to work in a free press. Grand juries have investigative powers as well as the power of indictment and a grand jury is out on the hunt. If this grand jury is out for a kill and Miller is unable or unwilling to share her contact, then that should just be tough luck. I feel it is important for them to uncover the leak in the White House but not at the risk of imprisoning an honest woman.\nHer story is already echoing throughout the nation. The Senate is already feeling the impact of Miller's decision as support for legislation to protect reporters is in the works. People are hoping to create laws that would protect reporters by not forcing them to reveal their private, confidential sources for stories. \nYes, this would theoretically place them above the law and above everyone else; however this is clearly supporting the First Amendment. The right of the press is one of the few things we have left in this country that attempts to remain neutral. Judith Miller was acting in the best interest of her country. She wasn't trying to make money and she wasn't out to ruin people. She is trying to be honest with a secret that may cause more trouble than it actually should and it is not the role of the judiciary branch to encroach on a person's rights.\nThis is a free country, or at least we try to be. The oppression we have from our government is not visible but has begun to saturate our lives. Judith Miller is a private citizen with a responsibility to maintain her sources because that is how the news works. Though it may be compromising and urgent, we cannot simply take the First Amendment and look at it through a more agreeable lens to change how we want to interpret it.\nDid Miller unravel something mega-important in the government? Most likely not. Has she created a revolution that will change the world? Probably not. Just let it go and realize that she is doing her duty to keep America alive.