Concerns about personal freedom should start in NYC

The Island Now

In Afghanistan, a major problem for the modern day is the lack of a developed central government with institutions such as we have here. There, there are the tribal or ethnic groups with their leaders or lords. 

This is similar to our communities with a mayor. Imagine that being the USA without developed state and federal systems. 

We would be at the mercy of being overrun by any foreign bully regime as happened to Iraq. 

As for Afghanistan, time and patience will be required to change what has been the way for centuries.

The newly elected and hopefully democratic president of Egypt gave himself powers as he wished. How that will play out is yet to be seen. In one of our great major cities, the people of that city had democratically voted that a mayor could serve two terms only. 

Lo and behold, a mayor after serving two terms overwhelmed the will of the people of that city and is serving a third term. This says for all time his disregard for the people. In a recent election, even though the proposition was placed on the back of the ballot, the people again overwhelmingly restated that a mayor shall serve no more than two terms. 

Whatever we see in the world, it also exists within our borders. The rights of many were crushed by the foregoing action. 

Under the auspices of this mayor, the police have the right without just cause to put their hands in the pants of whomever they wish. One would imagine that the police would be trained in something like karate in dealing with disturbed individuals with a weapon. As it is “eek, he has a knife” and a bullet in the chest: Bang, you dead.

More could be said. We should check our own liberty and justice for all before criticizing others.

 

Charles Samek

Mineola

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