A BOOK ON U.S. APPLICABLE LAW
Deacon San Nguyen
GOOD INTENTION, BAD JUDGEMENT
As you already know, U.S.A. is a melting pot including most ethnic origins in the world. People migrated to this country to have better jobs and a better life. The first pioneers set foot here over 200 years ago. Following them, waves of immigrants poured in airports of this country. Every year, thousands of newcomers arrived in America. They created various communities based on their original traditions and culture.
In order to maintain a peaceful environment, and to avoid conflicts that might happen among communities, the government treated all citizens fairly and equally with conditions that all people had to comply with Federal, State Law, and current regulations that government agencies applied on its citizens. To remind people about the importance of Law, American Bar Association had created the Law Day in the end of 1950. This Commemorative Day was approved by the Congress, and then, President Eisenhower promulgated that the First of May was the Law Day.
Law in this country takes role as the Supreme Power to lead the country in peace and to preserve the security of the society. Law includes all rights of people as well as of government and duties of people to the country. It also creates a base for peaceful lives for everyone to make the country prosperous and flourished. It also keeps America secured with various cultures and traditions and makes this country the best of all countries.
In May 2009, the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma organized a Law Day celebration, on the same day with the Swearing-In Ceremony for 120 people once belonged to 42 countries. Luckily, I was appointed as the keynote speaker for the ceremony. In that occasion, I talked about different cultures and traditions of several countries (including Vietnam) that melted in America but still kept their own values. Because of that, U.S.A. becomes a super country and none can compare with it. Of course, some laws enacted by America may be a conflict to the laws that people were once familiar with before they resettled in this country. But if newcomers remember the slogan “Go along with the flow”, they should try to adapt themselves to the new place in order to avoid any conflict that may happen between newcomers and the native residents.
As experienced over 30 years servicing at Federal Courts of U.S. Judicial Branch, and over 17 years as the Chaplain for Correctional Facilities in Oklahoma, I had chances to communicate with many felons and found out many important issues that needed to be shared with all people as followed:
Cruelty to Animals. In many Asian countries, the act of beating and killing animals like dogs and cats are considered as normal activities of people. However, in USA, this act is considered as felony. Whoever commits this act should be tried at Court as a criminal due to his cruelty to animals. If there is enough proof, the suspect will be either fined or jailed, or both fined and jailed.
As Oklahoma Law, Bill 21, article 1685, injuries to animals and cruelty to animals such as negligence to feed animals, no sheltering animals, beating or killing animals, if being caught, the suspect will face criminal charge and sentenced to jail no exceeding 5 years, or being detained under 1 year, or being fined under $500.00.
Recently, two cases related with animal being beaten, one in Oklahoma City and another, in Houston, brought attention to newcomers: some dogs and cats from neighborhood ran into houses of others and created mess in the houses. The landlords got angry, ran after the animals, and beat the animals until death. Both were charged with cruelty to animals.
DUI. A man was detained because he violated the law of “drunk and drive”. After 3 days and 2 nights in jail, he was released but he could not walk straight: he was raped by 3 criminals who were homosexual. For 2 nights in the cell, 3 guys continuously raped him but nobody saved him.
Child Molestation. Few years ago, Thomas, a Vietnamese-American, was put in jail for 6 months. He was sentenced to have 10 years on parole. Thomas misunderstood the meaning of a hug when he saw American people hugging each other, especially when he saw a Catholic priest hugged the Mass participants. He thought that was a necessary tradition that people had to follow. Because of this thought, he hugged all people whom he met on his way. Then, one day, he got accident. When one of his daughter’s girl friend was leaving his house after a visit, Thomas hugged the young girl. However he accidentally touch the lower part of the young girl’s body.
The girl reported to her parents who brought this case to Court. Thomas was put in jail for almost 5 months. After being released, he could not live anywhere near a school or any place where there were juniors staying. Even with his 9 year old daughter, he had no rights to raise her again. His daughter had to be taken away from him and moved to a foster family until she turned to 18 then she could come back to his family if she wished.
There was another funny story that related with the tradition of hugging! Bill, a jealous man had a doubt about his wife’s faithfulness. He thought that his wife had a relationship with her supervisor. One day, on the occasion of a New Year Party at her office, the husband visited a friend of hers who recorded the event. Bill borrowed a video tape from the friend and showed it to me with the intention to measure how long Andy, her wife’s supervisor hugged her. The husband believed that if Andy hugged her longer than he did with others, the man would take it as a proof to sue Andy. However, when watching the tape, we measured the time Andy hugged his wife and found out that the time that Andy hugged his wife was less than Andy did with others. After watching the tape, Bill felt sorry and did not have any doubt on his wife anymore.
“Thank You”. In Vietnam, people only said “Thank You” to show gratitude to someone who did some great things to them. In America, the words “Thank You” are used to all occasions, no matter how important they were. For examples, people say “Thank You” to a man who yield the door for them. Everyday, Americans say “Thank You” all the times. That tradition helps people to be friendly with each other. Be noticed: “hugging” is different! Vietnamese people do not hug much like Americans do. Shaking hands and bowing heads are enough. Hugging may cause some problems to somebody. For instance, seeing a spouse hugging another, a wife or a husband may get mad and become jealous then some problems may happen to the couple.
Therefore, not all traditions are bad or good. A wise man must select the appropriate ones to follow to avoid a legal matter involved.
Generally, based on American traditions and court judgments, we realize that, in social life, there are 4 top privileges that people usually respect: Children, Woman, Pets, and Man. Practically, those opinions are widely respected. Thus, newcomers need to pay respects to these rankings to prevent themselves from legal issues that may happen to them accidentally. If they could do it, newcomers would find this second country the best place in the world to live.
