Dear Friends
A week ago, a death of Trayvon Martin in Florida stroke with
awe not only the land of America but to the outside world. The law of land
spoke its interpretation of how the judiciary system works in America. While
the rest of the world tries to understand how this comes to this decision and
where it will take, many cities across the country convened protests against
the verdict. Former defendant neighborhood watch (volunteer police) George
Zimmerman’s family elaborated he is currently under death threats. The incident
in February of this year ended 6-members jury’s announcement that George is
free with no evidence of conviction.
Here is how the jury processed. The Judge gave the list of
instruction which includes whether George is convicted with murder (includes
secondary murder) and profiling as a suspect. To cut the story short, Jury
found no ground of murder based on profiling. There was no trace of racial
profiling played a role in the entire incident.
Sure we agree any given existing law on this planet speaks
for the incident that had been happened. It does not lay out the guideline how
we need to go forward if such happens. But sure it does leave the precedence to
the entire judiciary system. Jurors’ delivered a remark to the media (including
CNN who tracked the whole process) that their “hearts are heavily weighted in
the life of Trayvon Martin”. Parents of
Tryavon appeared before the world’s major network CNN calmly with humble.
The political arena went to the point that the president should
speak up on how he reflects to the tragedy. The President of the United States
Obama emotionally noted last Friday: “There are very few African-American men
haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in the
department store. That includes me!” He concluded the local and government law
enforcement should work diligently to improve and avoid racial profiling in
future.
Does the justice served? Yes, professionally.
Does the judgment provide technics how to handle such common
incidents occur in many communities in future? No.
It comes to my mind of current ongoing racial/religious
conflict episodes crisscrossing Burma. Extreme nationalistic politicians,
high-ranking officials and some political figureheads are tainting the image of
our beloved nation. Many Burmese (outside Burma) more or less agree on the
notion that minorities are unequally treated (by the local majority and
government). Very handful of top government officials slowly now accept the
fact minority ethnics and religions are not given the same privileges enjoyed
by the people living side-by-side in the same region; which is clearly
stipulated in all constitutions. It is even worse when the world find the
minority ethnics who have historically in the country are not being recognized
as own ethnics. Some government official outspokenly commented those ethnics
should have never been listed as official ethnic groups!
Moreover amazing judiciary system of America emphasizes the
important role of citizens participating in the system. The constitution
stipulated all civil judgment should not be reflected solely in the ‘eyes of
law but also by civic mean. British-style Burma’s judiciary system is now
desperately trying to look for its standpoint of where they are. The Great Britain
itself has abandoned the ‘majestic’ judiciary system she installed to many
colonial countries like Burma; decades ago. Wake-up Burma!
We, who have been away for many years if not decades from
our motherland, have been coping with same set of ‘de-ja-vu’ phenomenon. Am I discriminated at the workplace? Am I
left-off or overlooked when it comes to the better opportunity? Are we treated
as minority? Are we harassed? Are they Supremists? Sure such human nature will
continue endless but out fight for the cause is enormous. History has proven
the dream of respect of humanity will one day prevail.
But I see the old mindset of ethnic supremacy in Burma will
continue unless the government and politicians change their ways. It will
continue to remain for foreseeable future.
