I still struggle to understand the idiosyncrasies of the social culture of the US. The most successful and largest economy in the world, the self proclaimed champion of freedom, and the richest of rich societies still finds it difficult to defend the weak in its midst and to value the quality of mercy.
The recent approval by the US House of Representatives of a watered down version of President Barack Obama's health reform Bill was a close call indeed. Thirty-nine Democrats from the President's own party voted against the Bill, possibly because many of them are too dependent on the support of the large health insurance companies to get re-elected. Only one Republican congressman found enough value in this healthcare reform to support this Bill.
The US Senate has now voted to hold a full debate on the Bill but this reform proposal still faces formidable obstacles before it becomes law. The Senate is likely to demand further changes before this Bill has any chance of being approved. In the meantime almost 60 million Americans will remain without healthcare cover. The Bill will provide a safety net for 96 per cent of Americans, including 36 million that today are still not covered. Even so, 18 million, many of them illegal immigrants, will remain without healthcare cover even if and when this bill is approved.
John Dingell, the 83-year-old Democrat who has introduced universal healthcare insurance in every Congress since 1955, said: "This Bill provides coverage for 96 per cent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it."
The rationale for this reform could not have been explained in a simpler and more articulate way. Any yet, so many of the US lawmakers could not master the courage to make their society a fairer one. They label as "socialists" all those Americans who consider the European social model as one that gives dignity to all citizens. They ignore the fact that most democratic parties in Europe, including the social democrats, have contributed to building a European society that is much fairer with those who are weak.
The recent execution of the Washington sniper John Allen Muhammad by lethal injection is another typical incident that worries many people about some of the values embraced by sections of the US society. Mr Muhammad was an obnoxious criminal who killed 10 people in 2002. Many believe that this criminal was just a mentally ill war veteran.
The US media fed the American public the morbid details of the gruesome end of this criminal. They gave a minute by minute description of Mr Muhammad's last moments including the meal he ate.
One newspaper reported: "Muhammad was let into Virginia's death chamber and within seconds he was lying on a gurney, tapping his left foot, his arms spread wide with a needle dug into each. Victims' families sat behind glass looking straight forward, intent on what was happening. Nelson Rivera, whose wife was gunned down, said that when he watched Muhammad's chest moving for the last time, he was glad".
I am not qualified or entitled to pass judgment on how the US media and public dealt with this execution. Only the victims of the persons who suffered at this criminal's hand know how painful the last seven years have been for them. They also have every right to demand justice for the death of their dear ones. But we can often mistake vindictiveness for justice.
I am still puzzled by the behaviour of those who had a right and duty to act in a way that would have shown that the quality of mercy characterises societies that truly value life. Virginia's Governor Timothy Kaine, who is reputed to be against the death penalty, still refused to grant clemency, despite the fact that there were at least reasonable doubts about Mr Muhammad's sanity.
A small group of death penalty opponents gathered near the prison and had a sign reading: '"We remember the victims, but not with more killing". A blog correspondent from The Netherlands posted a brief comment on a US newspaper's electronic edition saying: By preaching revenge society acts as it was a couple hundred years ago. Only civilised people can forgive others for their mistakes.
jcassar@yahoo.com