Jamal's conviction really is a very simple issue that is being obfuscated by a few of his supporters.
While it is true that politicians lie and the media lies and police lie and we all lie, all to some extent, we can only be responsible for our own behavior. Lying on an immigration form or to an immigration agent is against the law. You're not supposed to do it. It doesn't matter how "scared" one is or how oppressive the homeland is or how much fear one lives in trying to immigrate to this nation. You just don't do it. Jamal did it. That's a federal offense. Someone as bright as him knew it, and may have several years of federal custody (hopefully) to think about it. People like Mr. Jamal don't get some sort of free pass because they may do "good" in the community. If that were the standard, all we'd need is a panel that weighs a person's good versus their bad, and offer free passes for lying on immigration forms because such transgressions are outweighed by activism. Sorry, but it don't work that way. The individuals on this board are suggesting that his case be handled exactly that way. That's a scary notion. If you don't want to go to federal prison for lying on immigration forms, don't lie on immigration forms. It ain't that tough. Mike Thompson Soutwest Minneapolis ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Nelson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Gregory Reinhardt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 9:05 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Mpls Somali activist found guilty of immigration fraud > > Greg Reinhardt > > Excelsior > wrote > > Should the lies of a "good" man be forgiven while the lies of a "bad" man > are fully > > prosecuted? Does a person's "good' intentions trump the fact that one has > > uttered a lie, let alone five? > > It appears that if you lie big enough you get to be re-elected President. > Of course, it helps to have your buddies running most of the mainstream > media and getting those who are supposed to be the ones in charge of state > elections to come on board as your campaign manager giving them a vested > interest in the outcome of the election. > > But then the answer to your question boils down to whether the President is > a "good" man or a "bad" man and that depends on your level of income. > > Steven M Nelson > Willard Hay > http://citizenshipchronicles.blogspot.com/ > Get UP! Get OUT! & GET INVOLVED!!! > > 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:[email protected] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > 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:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
