And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Organization: The University of Michigan - Flint >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], > [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], > [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 17:25:47 EDT >Subject: Re: Sovereignty, Not"Rule of Law" at Stake >Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-Confirm-Reading-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-pmrqc: 1 >Priority: normal >X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (v2.53/R1) > > >FROM UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE >FOR RELEASE: WEEK OF DECEMBER 25, 1998 >COLUMN OF THE AMERICAS by Patrisia Gonzales and Roberto Rodriguez >SOVEREIGNTY, NOT 'RULE OF LAW,' IS AT STAKE > >Rather than enjoy the holidays, we've had to keep an eye on the political >shenanigans of our elected officials in Washington, D.C. As such, while talk >of censure by the U.S. Senate gains momentum, we are still >baffled by this thing called the "rule of law." > >From kindergarten through college, we were taught that the United States was >the land of freedom and democracy, and that it was our sacred duty to defend >the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights, with >nary a word about the rule of law. > >To all of a sudden be told by politicians that the almighty "rule of law" is >the foundation of this country worries us; it sounds "Big Brotheresque" -- >something intransigent and totalitarian. That's what the Republican leadership >apparently doesn't get. Of course, this country is a nation of laws, but the >"rule of law" as a rallying cry doesn't quite resonate with the majority of >Americans. It's not laws that are sacred, for laws once permitted land theft, >slavery, Jim Crow, and denied women the right to vote. What instead is sacred >and is the engine of U.S. history is our evolving quest and pursuit of >justice, equality and humanization. > >In the impeachment proceedings, the rule of law turned out to be a slick >parliamentary maneuver called the "rule of germaneness" -- a trick that >prevented censure of the president from being considered by the House, >apparently contrary to the consciences of a majority of representatives. > >The president's detractors still don't get it. In their eyes, truth is >sacrosanct. Most people, we believe, agree with that precept. Where the >Republican leadership failed is in its apparent inability to understand that >truth without wisdom does not necessarily lead to justice -- or compassion. > >It's reminiscent of the King Solomon parable; some >Republicans (and perhaps 30 percent of the U.S. population) >would tear apart the nation just to punish the president. >We actually agree with most of what Republicans say >regarding character, truth and dignity: These qualities do >indeed count. > >The Democrats' conduct this past year is similar to that of >U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston. He demonstrated honor by >resigning his post only after he was exposed. Similarly, >most Democrats were not demanding that the president be >censured until it became obvious that most Americans >preferred that option and that the Republicans -- because >of superior numbers -- would impeach even if Moses himself >said no. > >We expect that the Democrats also will boldly >step forward and explain --not just to children, but to us >all -- the importance of truth and of honoring oaths and >vows. > >Of all the phrases bandied about in this process, >the one that intrigues us most is "sovereignty." >Republicans continue to point out that all U.S. citizens >are equal under the law and that the president doesn't enjoy "sovereign >immunity." We agree, for that is precisely what Chile's former dictator Gen. >Augusto Pinochet continues to claim as a defense for his crimes against >humanity. That both stories have been evolving at the same time may be a >reason why most people don't want Clinton removed. His >transgressions do not amount to "crimes against humanity," >nor do they threaten the security of our nation. > >Sovereign immunity absolutely has no place in a modern >society. Sovereignty-- which is not simply about foreign >affairs, but about how our nation is governed -- belongs to >"We the People," not to presidents nor despots. We live in >a republic, a representative democracy: a system that has, >in a relative sense, served us well historically. > >Representative democracy, as Lani Guinier has eloquently >pointed out, is designed to thwart the "tyranny of the >majority." In other words, it is there to prevent mob rule. > >That seems to have happened here. By the slimmest of >margins, the Republicans in "the People's House" simply >outvoted the minority, while disregarding the will of the >majority of the people. Perhaps history will judge >that the Republican leadership did not give in to mob rule; yet their refusal >to allow a meaningful debate on censure may in itself be >interpreted by historians as mob rule. > >The juxtaposition between sovereignty and mob rule is a powerful one. Are >the people sovereign, or are their representatives? In this case, it's fair to >turn the question around: Are the representatives the mob? > >Separate from Senate action, in the end, Clinton will be dealt with by his >family and history. What remains to be seen is whose sovereignty will triumph, >the people's or their representatives'. > >COPYRIGHT 1998 UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE > > >* Both writers are authors of Gonzales/Rodriguez: Uncut & Uncensored (ISBN >0-918520-22-3 UC Berkeley, Ethnic Studies Library, Publications Unit. >Rodriguez is the author of Justice: A Question of Race (Cloth ISBN >0-927534-69-X paper ISBN 0-927534-68-1 Bilingual Review Press) and the >antibook, The X in La Raza II and Codex Tamuanchan: On Becoming Human. They >can be reached at PO BOX 7905, Albq NM 87194-7904, 505-242-7282 or >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Gonzales's direct line is 505-248-0092 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER=-=-=>>>> If you think you are too small to make a difference; try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito.... African Proverb <<<<=-=http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ =-=>>>> IF it says: "PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW...." 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