The constitution was signed more than 200 years ago, yet today there continues to be an ongoing fight to achieve basic rights for many groups: women, gays, blacks, etc. In fact in the last several years there has been a move to take away rights only recently achieved, such as the right for a woman and her doctor to decide what is best for her when it come to pregnancy, the rights of gays to live without being in fear, and the rights of blacks to even walk on a public street without fear of being killed or the basic right to vote.

Thirty states have now passed so call “Stand Your Ground” laws, which in practice is a license for anyone carrying a gun to kill any one he/she perceives to be a threat even if the person carrying the gun created the confrontation.

Our so-called leaders in the public and private sectors have shown over time they are incapable of governing the country in a civilized manner, which has led to the country living in fear and being most uncivilized.

For the above reasons, I think it is time for the U.N. Right’s Commission to take a long look at this country and how its criminal justice systems and laws adversely affect its own citizens as well as citizens of other countries.

George Whitaker, Bellevue