As a faithful watcher of CNN and Headline News, I am becoming more alarmed at the perception that the world has of America. It seems everyday our world reputation, relationships, and level of respect becomes more and more shredded. Am I a graduate with a Ph. D. in Public Relations and Political Science? No. However, I don't think someone has to have all those credentials to turn a television on and put two and two together. I think we get four from that. On a more serious note, I don't think anyone who keeps up with world affairs and current events can deny we Americans have gained a reputation of arrogance and indifference when it comes to other countries. My concerns and anxiety level went up even more after hearing the news about the Raymond Davis case that has amassed world-wide attention.
Regardless if he has diplomatic status or not, the Pakistani people will want his head being that he is seen as once again, the arrogant disrespectful American who can come to some one's country and do what ever they want and no price is paid. However, the Pakistani government seems to be over the barrel on this one. On one hand, if they don't give him back to us, they will be denied the 2 billion dollars that WE give them every year in their on-going war with Afghanistan. I they do give him back, they will face civil un-rest as Egypt has these past couple of weeks.
Let's look at this from the Pakistani people's point of view. An American has come into their country who (1) has no diplomatic status (2) was in an area he shouldn't have been in (3) shot two of their country men (4) had a gun that wasn't registered (5) made a call to the Consulate to be extracted (6) caused another country man to be run over. I think if these allegations are true we can see why they would want justice. Hopefully, they are not true and Raymond Davis can be returned back to America and reunited with his family, who I am sure miss him dearly. I must ask any true American, how would we feel if all of this was the other way around, how would we have reacted?
I hope my foundation for reasons of concern about double standards is understood by the reader. What double standards are we showing you may ask? We have a verified diplomat right here in a prison in America. That's right, some of you may remember the case of Rev. Dr. Malachi Z. York-EL, in 2002, who was known as the leader of the Nuwaupians, and was sent to prison on a child molestation and RICO charge for a sentence of 135 years. What's more is that he was proven innocent of all the alleged crimes in a federal district court!! Yes, he is being held in the most secure prison in America, Florence AD MAX, Florence, CO.
So now, I ask each and every American how can we change the way other countries in the world see us in regards to our striving to be the world leader of democracy and equal rights for all people of not just the United States, but the world over? We can simply not be hypocrites. If we are going to demand that one of ours be returned on grounds of the codes of the Vienna Convention, we cannot hold a diplomat of another country and not be true to agreeing to the terms of the Vienna Convention. Rev. Dr. Malachi K. York showed his credentials to the arresting officers and informed them of his status as a Liberian Diplomat and Consul General and was still arrested. In fact, his Diplomatic Passport Number is D/003828-04. He also has a Liberian Permit of Residence, permit number: 108208. He was denied his right to notify his consulate that he was being arrested. All of these are violations of the Vienna Convention. After almost nine years of incarceration, he still sits in isolation with his rights and privileges being violated everyday. We must do away with our system of double standards if we are to be seen as the true enforcer of democracy equal rights for the world!!
Atun Sen Goreg
Regardless if he has diplomatic status or not, the Pakistani people will want his head being that he is seen as once again, the arrogant disrespectful American who can come to some one's country and do what ever they want and no price is paid. However, the Pakistani government seems to be over the barrel on this one. On one hand, if they don't give him back to us, they will be denied the 2 billion dollars that WE give them every year in their on-going war with Afghanistan. I they do give him back, they will face civil un-rest as Egypt has these past couple of weeks.
Let's look at this from the Pakistani people's point of view. An American has come into their country who (1) has no diplomatic status (2) was in an area he shouldn't have been in (3) shot two of their country men (4) had a gun that wasn't registered (5) made a call to the Consulate to be extracted (6) caused another country man to be run over. I think if these allegations are true we can see why they would want justice. Hopefully, they are not true and Raymond Davis can be returned back to America and reunited with his family, who I am sure miss him dearly. I must ask any true American, how would we feel if all of this was the other way around, how would we have reacted?
I hope my foundation for reasons of concern about double standards is understood by the reader. What double standards are we showing you may ask? We have a verified diplomat right here in a prison in America. That's right, some of you may remember the case of Rev. Dr. Malachi Z. York-EL, in 2002, who was known as the leader of the Nuwaupians, and was sent to prison on a child molestation and RICO charge for a sentence of 135 years. What's more is that he was proven innocent of all the alleged crimes in a federal district court!! Yes, he is being held in the most secure prison in America, Florence AD MAX, Florence, CO.
So now, I ask each and every American how can we change the way other countries in the world see us in regards to our striving to be the world leader of democracy and equal rights for all people of not just the United States, but the world over? We can simply not be hypocrites. If we are going to demand that one of ours be returned on grounds of the codes of the Vienna Convention, we cannot hold a diplomat of another country and not be true to agreeing to the terms of the Vienna Convention. Rev. Dr. Malachi K. York showed his credentials to the arresting officers and informed them of his status as a Liberian Diplomat and Consul General and was still arrested. In fact, his Diplomatic Passport Number is D/003828-04. He also has a Liberian Permit of Residence, permit number: 108208. He was denied his right to notify his consulate that he was being arrested. All of these are violations of the Vienna Convention. After almost nine years of incarceration, he still sits in isolation with his rights and privileges being violated everyday. We must do away with our system of double standards if we are to be seen as the true enforcer of democracy equal rights for the world!!
Atun Sen Goreg