Patrick J. Colliano
2 min readAug 11, 2021

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Let me try one more time. I said that the incident you described was not a good example of failed U.S. law. That's because it's not U.S. law. It's international law. Diplomatic immunity was codified into international law at the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations in 1961. And 193 nations ratified this, including the U.S.

I'm not saying that the application doesn't lead to disgusting and appalling situations, such as the one you describe. I'm just saying it's not a good example of failed U.S. law, because it isn't U.S. law. It's international law. The same thing would happen if a British diplomat's wife came to the U.S. and made the same mistake, resulting in deaths. Since she has diplomatic immunity, the U.S. cannot prosecute her. Send her back to England? Yes. Prosecute? No.

The same thing would happen if a Russian diplomat's wife broke the law in Brazil while her husband was acting as a diplomat. Brazil could not prosecute her. Expel from the country? Yes. Prosecute her? No.

Do you understand what I'm trying to say? It's not a U.S. law, so it can't be an example of bad U.S. law. It's international law.

I suggested Ethan Couch because I do not argue against your claim that we have a failed justice system, when rich, spoiled, entitled brats can kill four people while drunk driving and get a comparative slap on the wrist, while Cameron kills 2 people while drag racing and goes to prison for four years. I just think your argument would be much stronger if you resorted to Ethan Couch as your example, rather than something that any diplomat's wife from any of the 193 nations could do in any of the remaining 192 nations, as long as her husband is acting as a diplomat.

Ethan Couch, aka "the affluenza teen," was a uniquely American case. You might want to research it more, so you have accurate information. As part of his probation, this kid was not allowed to drink or use recreational drugs. When he was video recorded drinking at a party, his probation officer attempted to contact him. However, his mother, fearing her son's incarceration, absconded with him to Mexico.

And for violating probation and fleeing the country, he gets two years. For a ten year probation after killing four people.

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Patrick J. Colliano
Patrick J. Colliano

Written by Patrick J. Colliano

Actor, fitness enthusiast, and observer of life.

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