Quite often, one gets the impression that there are some in the U.S.A who have a problem with the equal citizenship of others. There is ample evidence of this impression- unjust laws and policies, unequal treatment under the law, denial of the humanity of some citizens. The law should never be an excuse/reason for the unequal treatment (evident or not) of any citizen anywhere- especially in a democracy.
Every citizen who leaves his home to go to work or play expects to return home safely and should do.
Is anyone keeping score of the after "shooting death by police" total cost to communities, states, and the country in the last four months?
Should resisting arrest by the police result in the death at the hands of the police, of an unarmed suspect however threatening the police might have imagined them thought them to be?
Is anyone concerned about the avoidable much explaining that many U.S. citizens (diplomats and others) overseas must be doing at this time?
Should anyone, armed by the state or not, be licensed to kill because they are simply in reasonable fear for their life?
Should a policeman shoot and kill an unarmed suspect/threat that is running away from them?
Should training that is worth its salt not improve judgment such that there is more not less restraint?
Should citizens be afraid of the police that they have empowered and pay competitive wages to protect them?
Wrong is wrong. It is not less so because of the cliché- "we have made a lot of progress". A lot of progress is not enough progress when the constitutional and human rights and lives of fellow citizens are being denied/cut short agents of the state. It is about time the U.S.A. is where it should be on all citizens' rights, so many years after her declaration of independence from Great Britain and the adoption of her constitution.
That "all men are born equal" should be more that a mantra. It should be an unreserved call to necessary action by the state and all citizens.
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Oluwatoyin Adepoju
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2014 8:32 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: [NIgerianWorldForum] 1946 - Albert Einstein on Being Black in America
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rotimi Ogunsuyi rogunsuiy@yahoo.com [NIgerianWorldForum] <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 6, 2014 at 3:36 AM
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] 1946 - Albert Einstein on Being Black in America
To:
Hear ye, hear ye:
"In the United States everyone feels assured of his worth as an individual. No one humbles himself before another person or class. Even the great difference in wealth, the superior power of a few, cannot undermine this healthy self-confidence and natural respect for the dignity of one's fellow-man.
There is, however, a somber point in the social outlook of Americans. Their sense of equality and human dignity is mainly limited to men of white skins. Even among these there are prejudices of which I as a Jew am clearly conscious; but they are unimportant in comparison with the attitude of the "Whites" toward their fellow-citizens of darker complexion, particularly toward Negroes. The more I feel an American, the more this situation pains me. I can escape the feeling of complicity in it only by speaking out." - A. Einstein, 1946
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Einstein: The Negro Question (1946) by Albert Einstein I am writing as one who has lived among you in America only a little more than ten years. And I am writing seriously and warningly. Many readers may ask: "What right has he to speak about things which concern us alone, and which no newcomer should touch?" | ||||||
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Rotimi Ogunsuyi
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