. !’
jrsday. November 30, 20()()
%
ong arm of the law
Inked States violated international law by executing n
O v> (
s a nun
ter of
princi-
the Ameri-
ean | government
? tportsEo rec-
inize the exis-
ice and the
thority of in-
national law.
! *! Throughout its history, the Unit-
States has signed countless polit-
eatki economic and military treaties
f th other nations, each guaranteed
• a respect for the process of law
i both sides of the table.
Now, America’s reckless aban-
m in executing criminals shows a
of respect for other countries.
Inerica [is going back on its word.
Iso is Two weeks ago, the United
ates admitted it violated interna-
*inal law by executing two Ger-
- fan citizens in Arizona without al-
sood wing them to contact German
tetnsular (officials.
Isaid The United States denied the
ermalgovernment’s claims that
e United States should be held re-
( ionsible for the violation and pay .
lri(|arations.
, In short, the United States ex-
u$!Cts to get away with violating in-
i _mational law.
If America wants to continue be-
jk gthe leader of the free world, it
ivevJl have to play by the rules.
/etc Under Article 36 of the 1963 Vi-
ma Convention, citizens traveling
^ays:>foad are guaranteed consular ac-
efirstss if arrested or put on trial,
tatif It is a right America vehemently
Tends for its citizens.
I iSc In fact, the ongoing trial of
a:, 'merican businessman Ed-
iionaond Pope in Russia
broas become an inter-
Witional [relations
ant glitmare, with the
nttifhjted States adamantly protesting
letiistS
ermanSy should pay reparations
the lack of consular access Russia
has allowed Pope.
Yet, American officials failed to
notify German authorities about the
arrest, trial and conviction of two
German citizens on murder charges
in Arizona in 1982.
The citizens in question were
two brothers, Karl and Walter La-
Grand, who were involved in a
failed bank robbery that resulted in
the bank manager’s death.
In fact, German officials did not
learn about the LaGrand brothers’
convictions until 1992, eight years
after they were placed on death row.
Despite protests by the German
government, Karl LaGrand was ex
ecuted in February 1999.
One year later, his brother was
executed, despite an order from the
International Court of Justice to de
lay the execution so a hearing could
be held.
If an American citizen was ar
rested, tried, convicted and execut
ed in a foreign country and denied
access to the local American em
bassy, there is no question the U.S.
government would be outraged.
Now that the United States has
denied international rights to a
pair of German citizens, it refuses
to accept the sanction of interna
tional law.
This double standard cannot
continue.
The LaGrand brothers’ case is
not isolated. According to figures
from the Death Penalty Information
Center, 89 foreign nationals are on
death row in the United States.
Not surprisingly, Texas leads the
list with 27 foreign citizens slated to
die for their crimes.
None of those cases were re
ported to the criminals’ re
spective consular agencies
as required by the Vien
na Convention.
o thumbs down
£
Movie critics
hould consider level of audience approval in rating films
On June 18, 1997, Texas exe
cuted Irineo Tristan Montoya, a
Mexican national sentenced to
death in 1986.
Following his arrest, Montoya
underwent a lengthy police interro
gation without the presence of an
attorney or the assistance of the
Mexican consulate.
He then signed a four-page con- ^
fession in English, a language he
did not read, speak or understand.
Despite being 18 years old and
having only secondary involvement
in the crime (Montoya was charged .
as an accessory to murder), he was
condemned to death.
The actual killer received a
prison sentence, not the death
penalty.
Texas authorities were fully
aware of Montoya’s nationality but
failed to inform him of his right to
consular access, saying that Texas
did not sign the Vienna Convention.
If the United States cannot en
force the Vienna Convention’s
provisions in its Own states, then
its signature on the document is
worthless.
If the United States expects other
nations to respect the rights of its
citizens, it must do the same for
theirs.
There is no question that
criminals should be punished for
their crimes, regardless of na
tional origin.
The United States cannot allow
foreign citizens to run rampant
across the country committing
crimes.
At the same time, state and na
tional governments must allow for
the due process of law, including
consular representation, when try
ing foreign nationals.
Nicholas Roznovsky is a senior
political science major. -
Gp*>c/afm*rcit& »*c,
lias
r
r 1
X (
lor some, Thanksgiving
means food and football. For
others, it means shopping
jfpsijnd school holidays,
jgf, J The avid moviegoer, however,
ie sj'jODsiders Thanksgiving to be the
gflfir.fginning of the holiday movie
agailsh.
ay# These movie fanatics are proba-
ly mire focused on which multi-million dollar re-
iaseslwill open that weekend.
"Many open the newspaper, anxious for the their
lledl!? Deal critics to tell them which movies will sell and
diich will take a Water World-like dive into the
r '~*%dioerity of home video.
What does not make sense are the ratings these
Titles give some Hollywood blockbusters.
Whether they are taking the acting, cinematogra
phy or editing of a film into account, critics often
:anOverlook what is may be the most important aspect of
catififollywood films today: their effect on the audience.
Perhaps when judging a movie’s worthiness, crit-
cs should take this into account.
Critics often review movies in screenings, which
ire showings of films before the release dates.
1 During these screenings that critics decide what
ey will write about the film. Apparently, many crit
ics have lost a taste for simple fun at the movies.
Movies like American Pie and Tommy Boy are de-
^^>igned to appeal to a certain demographic. The magic
■^Tmany of these movies often is lost on the stuffy
critics.
Agrowing trend has arrived in the business
)f reviewing films. It seems to much of the
iiiblic that film critics gauge a film’s
Tierit based only on who stars in it or
>vho directs it.
Sometimes, movies with typecast
it,T*
actors like Julia Roberts and Sylvester Stallone are
pigeonholed as lower-caliber films.
Critics do not anticipate the effect movies with
such actors have on the movie-going public.
Perhaps, instead of judging these movies, critics
should sit back, relax and enjoy the movies for what
they are: entertainment'
Many critics will uniformly describe certain
movies as atrocious.
One such movie, Star Wars: A New Hope, was
jeered by critics across the country.
Star Wars went on to become one of the world’s
top-grossing movie series, spawning the famed trilo
gy and eventually becoming a six-part series span
ning three decades.
How can one explain the popularity of a film so
quickly rejected by critics?
The simple fact is that critics often get disenchant
ed by lackluster acting or plot development, thereby
losing the overall effect a film will have on the aver
age moviegoer.
Critics did not greet The Matrix with the same
scrutiny upon its arrival. The movie was rewarded for
its unique technological effects with an Academy
Award.
The media did not praise the acting and story line.
The Matrix, however, enjoyed tremendous success,
mirrored by impressive box-office, DVD and video
sales. The sequel to The Matrix, which will become a
trilogy, has begun shooting.
American movie
critics need to set
aside their cyni
cism when judging
films,
Popular films
like X-Men and
Nutty Professor
should be judged
with a certain
amount of respect for
. -vM-
Mail Call
ANGELIQUE FORD/The Battalion
the way the public will re
spond.
After all, just because a
movie features the Adam
Sandler or Keanu
Reeves does not make
it inherently bad.
Marcus White is a sophomore
general studies major.
Minority coverage
applauded, needed
In response toArati Bhattacharya’s
Nov. 29 article.
I am pleased to see The Battal
ion addressing minority enroll
ment here at A&M.
When I came here from Milwau
kee, I was surprised at how white
this school is.
I understand some people’s
concerns about affirmative action
and reverse discrimination, but
this University is way off from rep
resenting the demographics of the
population of Texas.
Also, I believe that the lack of
diversity on this campus has a
negative impact on something just
about every Aggie holds dear:
football.
Have you noticed lately that we
have not been recruiting as well
as the University of Texas?
I do not believe that we will
ever bring talent to win a national
championship unless we become
more racially diverse. The majority
of top recruits are African Ameri
can and our lack of black culture
leaves us at a disadvantage.
I find the vast majority of Ag
gies to be friendly and polite, and I
believe the students are the best
part of the university.
Finally, I would like to stress to
Rasheeda James and all other non-
caucasian students to not let one
or two jerks spoil your outlook.
No matter where a person goes
in society, you are always going to
find a few knuckle heads. Most
Aggies are real cool.
Geoffrey Tweedale
Graduate student
Death penalty
change a bad idea
In response to Reid Bader’s
Nov. 29th column.
Bader would have us believe
that justice would best be exer
cised by ensuring “a process ...
without errors.” Fuzzy logic.
I do not believe that a lack of
responsibility is being shown on
the part of the states.
The Supreme Court has ruled
that the death penalty is at the
discretion of the individual states,
Calling on President Clinton to
ignore this decision and extend
the reach of the federal govern
ment over the will of the states
is a severely unconstitutional
recommendation.
New technological advances,
such as DNA testing, are huge
steps toward a totally accurate
justice system.
But I respectfully ask —
should we simply stop all incar
ceration of criminals simply be
cause some there may be “flaws”
in the system?
Just as Americans bear the re
sponsibility of living under the law,
our system of justice has a duty ’ 1
to carry out the law.
This cannot be subverted.
Chris Elam
Class of ’02 a
Littering a nuisance
Perhaps you should print a
message on the front page of The
Battalion from now on, modeled
after the ones you find on fast
food receptacles.
“Please dispose of this Batta/- ^
ion in a proper manner.”
The disorder students leave in U
classrooms around campus is
shameful.
Trash has its place — no one 1 • '
know appreciates tripping over
scattered newspapers, empty bot
tles of Coke and sticky candy
wrappers.
Elva Rodriguez
Class of ’03 - *
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