Amanda Knox A Cautionary Tale
Amanda Knox: A Cautionary Tale
Making Sense, by Michael Reagan
From now on, parents who plan to send their children abroad to study in a foreign nation should sit them down in front of the TV set and watch replays of the Amanda Knox saga. It has all the elements of a true-to-life lesson in the dangers of turning young men and women barely out of their teens into innocents abroad.
Youngsters — and many parents — are clueless when it comes to the customs and laws in other countries that lack many of the safeguards which we Americans take for granted. They should study the Amanda Knox case. It is a clear warning that — unlike here in the United State — in many foreign countries the accused is automatically guilty until proven innocent.
Consider this: Amanda Knox spent four years in prison before being tried in court on charges that ultimately appear to have been baseless. Moreover, her chief accuser himself now faces trial and possible imprisonment for misconduct. She was made hostage to a system of justice where the accused is guilty until proven innocent and she was locked away until a trial in court could take place, which in Amanda’s case took 48 long months behind bars. .
Four years in an Italian slammer — four years of waiting for a trial and a chance to tell her side of the story!
It is said that ignorance of the law is not an excuse for violating the law. That’s true here, but no consideration in given to Americans visiting foreign nations, who cannot be expected to understand all the ins and outs of the laws of those nations.
It is true that foreign travel is broadening. It can also be hazardous for young Americans born and bred in the best and fairest nation in the world, where the court system is designed to protect their rights and freedom of the citizenry — an uncommon idea in many nations abroad.
I can readily understand why some parents believe that study abroad enhances their offspring’s education. But I cannot understand how some parents can send their youngsters off to foreign counties to be on their own in a totally alien environment where many of the safeguards to their freedom, common here in the United States, simply do not exist. Many parents should consider accompanying their children on excursions abroad.
Parents need to wake up to the fact that the United States is the best and fairest country in the world. Our God-given freedom guaranteed by the Constitution is the reason why we have become the wealthiest nation in the word. Parents should educate themselves and their youngsters on the laws and customs of foreign nations before sending them abroad to study; otherwise they run the risk of losing them to an alien system of justice.
Amanda was lucky. You and your family might not be so lucky.
Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of “The New Reagan Revolution” (St. Martin’s Press, 2011). He is the founder and chairman of The Reagan Group and president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Visit his website at www.reagan.com, or e-mail comments to Reagan@caglecartoons.com. His column is licensed to run on TMV in full.
23 Responses to “Amanda Knox A Cautionary Tale”
I wonder if he fondled himself while writing this piece. I think he had an Amerigasm.
Michael, have you read ANYTHING about this case? Amanda Knox did NOT wait four years for a trial. She was originally convicted in 2009. She was acquitted on APPEAL.
And correct me if I’m wrong, but the case that made world news last week was that of Troy Davis, who was executed by the AMERICAN legal system despite increasing doubt over his guilt.
As the old saying goes, those in glass houses…
While I support Amanda Knox and believe she is innocent, I find Reagan’s use of this case—including his factual inaccuracies, already brought up, and including his heads-in-the-sand attitude towards a non-perfect U.S. justice system, also already brought up—to “fearmonger” and to denigrate other countries and cultures just plain unenlightened and jingoistic.
And then his “Our God-given freedom guaranteed by the Constitution is the reason why we have become the wealthiest nation in the word.” Isn’t there something more important, more valuable than material wealth that has come out of our “God-given freedom guaranteed by the Constitution”?
Not to interrupt the MR bashing but there is a usable idea in this post. If traveling it would be a good idea to also familiarize oneself with not just the tourist attractions and places to go but also the legal systems and what to do/ how to handle situations that might come up. In the case of Amanda Knox asserting her right to speak with the US consulate would have insured that she was provided with an attorney and she never would have been subjected to the 50 hr interrogation that led to statement for which she was convicted (the liable charge) and very possibly stopped the whole rush to judgment.
What a load of nonsense! You have GOT to be kidding!!!! The best and fairest nation in the world?? Wake up all you Americans if you even remotely believe this!!! Troy Davis was executed, even though there was only VERY scant evidence against him!!! America is the ONLY western nation that still has such barbaric punishment as the death penalty – America, to be said in the same breath as China and Yemen, Saudi Arabia and India! The rest of the free world sneers at the US for precisely this reason!!! Wake up! If Amanda had been Italian and accused of this crime in the US, she might never have had the chance to appeal, as she would very likely have been executed already!!!!!
People keep forgetting that Amanda Knox was in the room at some point, and knows what happened. She may not have actually killed Meredith Kercher, but she knows alot more than she is telling.
I find it interesting that the entire article and 5 replies later, Meredith Kercher’s name hasn’t appeared once.
As far as I am concerned, Amanda Knox is in the same category as Casey Anthony. She may not have pulled the trigger, but she helped cover it up, and won’t tell the truth about what really went on.
Meanwhile, both Caylee Anthony, and Meredith Kercher both have cases that have yielded no killer, and no justice.
It is sickening that the “info-tainment” hungry public has turned these cases into amusement, and granted the 2 “not-killers” celebrity status.
ateach52, I hope to heck you are not a teacher! How can you take yourself seriously? Troy Davis was first convicted over 20 years ago. It is impossible to argue he did not get due process.
As far as putting the United States on the same level as Saudi Arabia (where women weren’t even allowed to drive until recently) and other barbaric countries is irresponsible and idiotic.
The beauty of it is that you have every right to spew your hate for the country no matter how inane and unpatriotic. If, however, you have ANY self respect, please immediately go down to the nearest immigration office and renounce your citizenship and move to a better place! Oh, wait… there is no better place.
Amanda Knox was no angel and probably knew what happened to her friend. This group wasn’t studying classical Italian history, more debauchery and MS play. I could care less about a spoiled white female, another Natalie Holoway…
What about an unspoiled white female, or a spoiled hispanic female. The racism and hate on the left is amazing.
Whatever makes you think I am American,Tacoma.mark? I certainly am not! And it is not hate I am ‘spewing’ but a bit of a reality check! Surely you’re not suggesting that not being able to drive is on a par with capital punishment! Why is it that the Governor of Illinois has put a moratorium on the death penalty in his state? He has seen that there have been too many miscarriages of justice in his state and that innocent people have been executed! There is no going back, no undoing an execution! The American justice system is racist and classist – and is recognized as such not only by other Western countries but by many Americans as well! Blindly insisting the US has the best system, is the best, etc. Is ludicrous! You have obviously not been abroad and need a serious reality check, I’m afraid.
@taco
The racism and hate on the left is amazing.
It’s nothing to do with Leftist racism, it’s about MSM news and the poor white girl syndrome. Why does news make a big deal about blond, blued eyed victims? If a non-Natilee Holoway type go missing or is killed, why isn’t this a big story on Nancy Grace?
That just isn’t true. While I wont stat as a fact Knox’s guilt or innocence I will say that I don’t believe she could be found guilty on the evidence presented in the US. In addition as presented by the prosecution the death penalty would not be applicable even in States with the death penalty. Also there would be the automatic appeals one gets when convicted with a death sentence. Then there is the fact of Italy. No rules of evidence. No habeas corpus.
Actually there was a very good case against him. Even by his story the only two possible people could of done the shooting. He was one of them. The gun used was also used in a shooting earlier that day. There is no story, theory, or possibility ever given that puts the other possible shooter at the earlier shooting or in possession of the gun used in that shooting that Davis was also convicted for. Davis was guilty.
One according to her story she was not in the room at the time and there really isn’t evidence that the US would except as valid that says otherwise. Her original story was that she went over to her boyfriends and testimony and phone records generally support her statement.
I think that says more about your lack of knowledge of the case than anything else. Mind you it is not easy to find decent info on the case and she could be guilty but there is very little real evidence to support that belief. They did catch the killer and the theory of him and one other man fits much better the facts as known.
I am sorry for assuming you are an American. The death penalty has been heavily debated in this country and once that sentence is given to someone they have extensive appeal opportunities. Even the poorest of the poor can appeal for decades.
I do believe that the American form of government is the best form that has been conceived so far. However, it is FAR from perfect as are our citizens, but we come to the aide of nations in trouble and protect people’s liberty all over the world in times of struggle.
What would you consider to be a superior form of government to the United States Constitution?
It’s sad that white middle class Americans are so oblivious to the social problems in their own country.
I don’t think you find anyone who is older than 12 and w/half a brain who is oblivious. If you ask anyone you will get a whole list of problems in this country. We just don’t know of anyplace that we think is particularly better and we know the US is better than most. Now some of that is just national pride, some just preferring what you are comfortable with to the other options (basically not that one is better but this is what I prefer if you will), and some is obvious and justified truth. I have to say from your comment tho you really don’t seem anymore open minded than those you attempt to condemn.
Ellis, I think either you’re a little naive, sticking your head in the sand, or else you genuinely don’t realize how many people think America is the greatest and the best! What do most Americans – including some of the posters here- really know about the political and justice systems elsewhere? I’m not taking about Saudi Arabia or China! Obviously I’d rather live in the US then there! But Switzerland? The Netherlands? Denmark? I dare say you know nothing about these countries! Switzerland has the world’s ONLY form if complete direct democracy! Every man or woman’s voice counts here! I won’t go into the details – study it yourself. But we don’t go around shouting aloud that we are the best and the greatest! Per capita I believe we contribute as much money to help poorer nations as any place in the world. We certainly take in more refugees than most countries. We don’t send our soldiers out to get shot at in the Middle East and try not to meddle in other people’s business. Of COURSE Switzerland isn’t perfect – but we never claim it to be. The problem with the US and Americans is the arrogance! Yes, the US helps a lot if countries, it genuinely believes probably that everyone wants and needs it’s help. But what people just don’t want to see is that its policing is not always wanted or needed. There are many things about the US that I like very much, but I can see the other side very clearly too. When your president recently stated in front of the UN that America stood for human rights and would protect all citizens around the world against governments that didn’t believe in them, at that very moment one of his own citizens was being executed: Troy Davis! There WAS sufficient doubt to allow him anew trial. Besides, the rest of the free world considers – quite rightly – that capital punishment is a barbaric form of punishment and that it goes entirely AGAINST human rights! The hypocrisy therefore really gets to me! And many people in your country who are against abortion in the same breath say they are for capital punishment! I fail to understand this crazy reasoning! Just please stop saying you are the best! After the Second World War, everyone loved the US, but I’m sure you must realize this is far from the case now. America’s image has gone down drastically in the world. I really believe that this has a great deal to do with your denial of human rights and your use of the death penalty! I’m sorry for going off on a tangent so much in a post about Amanda Knox. I really am glad she is off – her parents much be very relieved too. But the fact she was a pretty white girl from a good family certainly helped her get all the media attention in the US and led partly to her acquittal, I’m quite convinced. Would there have been all that fuss if it had been a poor black man from the slums of an American inner city somewhere? I doubt it! Media interest is racist and classist too.
Ellis, I think either you’re a little naive, sticking your head in the sand, or else you genuinely don’t realize how many people think America is the greatest and the best! What do most Americans – including some of the posters here- really know about the political and justice systems elsewhere? I’m not taking about Saudi Arabia or China! Obviously I’d rather live in the US then there! But Switzerland? The Netherlands? Denmark? I dare say you know nothing about these countries! Switzerland has the world’s ONLY form if complete direct democracy! Every man or woman’s voice counts here! I won’t go into the details – study it yourself. But we don’t go around shouting aloud that we are the best and the greatest! Per capita I believe we contribute as much money
to help poorer nations as any place in the world. We certainly take in
more refugees than most countries. We don’t send our soldiers out to get
shot at in the Middle East and try not to meddle in other people’s
business. Of COURSE Switzerland isn’t perfect – but we never claim it to
be. The problem with the US and Americans is the arrogance! Yes, the
US helps a lot of countries, it genuinely believes probably that everyone
wants and needs its help. But what people just don’t want to see is that
its policing is not always wanted or needed. There are many things about
the US that I like very much, but I can see the other side very clearly
too. When your president recently stated in front of the UN that America
stood for human rights and would protect all citizens around the world
against governments that didn’t believe in them, at that very moment one
of his own citizens was being executed: Troy Davis! There WAS sufficient
doubt to grant him a new trial. Besides, the rest of the free world
considers – quite rightly – that capital punishment is a barbaric form of
punishment and that it goes entirely AGAINST human rights! The
hypocrisy therefore really gets to me! And many people in your country
who are against abortion in the same breath say they are for capital
punishment! I fail to understand this crazy reasoning! Just please stop
saying you are the best! After the Second World War, everyone loved the
US, but I’m sure you must realize this is far from the case now. America’s
image has gone down drastically in the world. I really believe that this
has a great deal to do with your denial of human rights and your use of
the death penalty! I’m sorry for going off on a tangent so much in a post
about Amanda Knox. I really am glad she is home – her parents much be
very relieved too. But the fact she was a pretty white girl from a good
family certainly helped her get all the media attention in the US and led
partly to her acquittal, I’m quite convinced. Would there have been all that
fuss if it had been a poor black man from the slums of an American
inner city somewhere? I doubt it! Media interest is racist and classist too.
Hey if you want to go on an anti American rant go ahead but man is it off topic.
Just a few points by the way. Your system of govt is based off the US. 1848 was when your constitution was written rights? Two houses in your federal legislature? Cantons acting like our states? True you have a civil law system unlike our common law but remarkable similar. Sure you can have direct referendums but when your country is the 1/16th the size of Texas, my home, with population less than Chicago metropolitan area then it really doesn’t compare to the US does it.
The Swiss don’t send their solders anywhere to get shot at. Sure you’ll send food but you’ll just watch genocide occur if the only way to stop it is by force. Of course your country also don’t mind providing finacial services to those commiting the genocide so……..
As to Davis I am sure I know the case better than you and he was guilty and there was not enough evidence for a retrial. The only reason you believe there was is because of the death penalty. You are trying to pretend the retrial and the death penalty are the same issue and they are not. As to the abortion issue it seems clear that if you consider the rights of a murderer to be the same as an innocent baby ……… While I’m not particularly pro life that’s an idiotic comparison. That you go on about Knox and the press she gets here, what about the horrible tabloid press that she got over seas? Any boost here from the “pretty blond” factor was more than canceled out by the evil press she got where she was tried and kept in jail. But ignore your back yard while pissing on mine. She didn’t get press here for a very long time. Her family spent years and buckets of money hiring PR firms and trying like crazy to get anyones attention while across the pond they were going on about the sex crazed killer everywhere. Somehow pretty and blond didn’t seem to make all that much of a difference. Her family and some obvious injustices really look like it had much more to do with the press than her skin color.
Well stated EEllis.
Ah, from Texas! That explains it. Get a life! I’d move if I were you:):) Switzerland giving money to those who commit suicide? You’re kidding, I assume. Who supported the Taliban for years during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan? The US did! get some if your facts straight, please! But that’s parlor the course. You think that doing a quick google on Wikipedia about Switzerland makes you an expert. You’re clueless:):) it takes more than that to inform oneself, I’m afraid:) over and out. Have spent enough time on this right-wing forum!
Oops, sorry. Genocide! I’m enjoying this, but willniwquit!
Ah argumentum ad hominem, what a shock.
My facts are straight. Do you really want me to list the policies and practices of Switzerland during Nazi Germany? And I said “providing financial services” and Swiss banks are still the benchmark for accounts for thugs, dictators, and scumbags world wide.
How about your facts? The Taliban didn’t start till 1991 out of the chaos and unrest of Afghanistan. Long after the US stopped funding anyone. While that absence may be a contributing factor to the chaos, and certainly nothing to be proud of, we were long gone before the emergence of the Taliban.
This is primarily liberal site but there are a few Conservatives who don’t just roll over and I certainly feel like the truth is more important than partisanship. Isn’t funny how when facts go against some people they bash research on subjects, you know like, “doing a quick goggle on Wikipedia” (which in itself is incorrect you either google or you look on Wiki you don’t google on Wiki), as an ad hominem attack to try and make that the facts are against them somehow less significant.
To get back to your original scree, I am not trying to espouse some US perfection tho we have a lot to be proud of. I just think much of the criticism comes from places that are no better and in many cases worse on so many issues than the US. Trying to somehow equate the economic systems of, if it were a US State by size and pop, would be #41 or #42, to the whole of the US? Bragging about your national referendums. Great but to do that in the US would probably cost about half of Switzerland’s GDP for a year. That a tiny country can do it doesn’t mean squat when scaled up. I’m again getting off topic. I just think that many attacks against the US, while ignoring issues at home, are misplaced and show the same bigotry and ignorance the attacker is trying to accuse the US of. Sure there are dumb Americans, but what turns a post into a Girl being freed into an anti US tirade?