Arresting citizens for dress code violations - it's absolutely wrong but remind me, while we may not have law like this in the US, tell me that cops don't arrest folks for a whole range of "stuff" that started with the cop's assessment that they were violating some sense of dress code. Better not call this one out, feels too close to home.
Homosexuality is a crime punishable by two years in jail - it's absolutely wrong but remind me, while we may not have law like this in the US, tell me we don't have systemic and cultural "punishment" of homosexuality that at least rivals imprisonment. Nope, better no call this one out, it feels too close to home too.
Police torture involving people as young as 14 - absolutely wrong too but look around on DU for that thread on "extrajudicial justice" (also called street justice). The number of kids under 18 killed on the street by cops for such amazing crimes as reaching into their pockets, appearing threatening, leaning in a threatening way (and other high crimes against the state)...that number is huge. I don't condone torture but let's be fair, it's still one rung up the "horrific-shit that can happen to you" list that getting shot dead in the street by a cop because you reached for your pez candy dispenser. (by the way - doesn't seem to be a problem for the rich kids in the suburbs, ya know what I mean).
My point was not to absolve Guyana or elevate them to sainthood and the things you describe are not ok in any society.
My point was that we, in the good ole US of A, should spend a lot less time calling out everyone else on their petty chit and a lot more time calling ourselves out...and then doing something about it. Before we go out preaching the moral high ground on human rights, maybe we ought first to find it for ourselves. Rather then preaching to the world through reports about radio towers, we should exemplify for the world through our actions.
Anyway - rant mode off - I just didn't want to leave this with the idea that what your describing is acceptable anywhere.
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