Four countries are now land mine free, Albania, Greece, Rwanda and Zambia. That is no small accomplishment, but many more need to join the list. Landmines destroy many lives and show a lack of respect for human rights. The 1997 International Mine Ban Treaty was ratified by 156 nations. And yet key players on the world stage have not yet ratified it, countries such as the United States, Russia, India and Pakistan. It was hoped President Obama would take the opportunity to have the treaty signed since the agreement is up for renewal, but so far the administration has let the status quo stand, refusing to take steps to have it signed and ratified. No doubt there are political considerations for the lack of action. Sometimes, though, humanitarian grounds should prevail. Banning landmines is one of those instances.
December 2009
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A Modicum of Widsom
When Roman Polanski, the director who admitted to the statutory rape of a 13 years old 32 years ago, filed for his case to be dismissed on the ground of judicial misconduct (for which there exists at least some evidence), the Second District Court of Appeals suggested that he request to be sentenced in absentia. Legal experts say that the court is pointing to a way for the case to be resolved without Polanski having to serve another day in jail. The 3 members court in a 70 pages ruling said, “We exhort all participants in this extended drama to place the integrity of the criminal justice system above the desire to punish any one individual, whether for his offense or for his fight.” There are those who will want Polanski punished no matter what, just as there are those who tend to want a given accused or convict punished regardless. Yet, if the justices’ argument holds any importance, those objections can be countermanded, for rare is the instance where the integrity of the criminal justice system does not trump the individual. Those who may not like the result when that principle is exercised may want to remember that the rule of law is more important than the individual because the rule of law is one of the things that gives our culture a modicum of wisdom.
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An ordinary Look
Yesterday I sat for hours in the halls of Los Angeles County Family Court while giving support to a friend there for her grandchildren since they were being removed from their mother’s custody. The halls were full, with just about every seat taken. I looked at the people, ordinary faces, no great anything stood out, no great beauty, no great ugliness, they looked as ordinary as any group could. Yet, some among them were offenders, had abused or neglected children. Others were there like us picking up the pieces and taking care of the children others had in some way hurt. The thing was, it wasn’t possible to tell who was who. Looks alone didn’t give any clue.
Today I read an article about Kaing Guek Eav, a 67 year old former Khmer Rouge member known as Duch who had been in charge of a notorious Phnom Penh prison and who is being tried for his crimes. The author compared him to Adolf Eichmann, the former Nazi put on trial by Israel in the 60’s, since both were not only ordinary people, they also looked ordinary.
What it all said to me was that evil may look ordinary, and that’s something many already know, but what we often forget is that good too looks just as ordinary.