Omar Jamal and his wife and children will be paying a VERY high price for the crimes he committed. It will deny them U.S. immigration and eventual citizenship. This situation will throw their immediate future into chaos for awhile.
I think it is pretty obvious that gaining immigrant or citizen status in the United States is now and has always been very important to many people around the world. I think when you add to that scenario the fact that they come from a country that has been destroyed by tribal infighting, war and rebels the stakes are that much higher. If you don't gain immigration to the United States and are forced to go back to or remain in the war torn country you are trying to leave, it is unspeakably frightful. In some cases, it means you will be killed just for trying. Omar is not the first immigrant to meet this fate. I have met Omar Jamal a few times. He has done a lot of good work on behalf of his people and was instrumental in helping the Whittier neighborhood on the Elroy issue. I for one owe him a debt of gratitude for what he did for his people and for this neighborhood. I think it's very sad that he will pay such a high price for choices he made when the United States was in a much different place than it is now. I feel sorry that he and his family will be deported or worse that he will be incarcerated here. It's easy for us who sit in nice warm toasty houses in one of the wealthiest countries in the world to condemn Omar for what he did, but none of us are standing in his shoes. I also felt badly that Martha Stewart got thrown in jail. Sometimes good people do bad things. When that happens they pay the price. I just hope the judge is merciful and that the sentence truly fits the crime. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
