Law vs. courtesy
Recently I read an interesting report in the daily 'Arab News' titled “Learn from UK how law is applied to Obama!" that the City Hall in London has asked US President Barak Obama, who visited the city recently, to pay the congestion charge of £10 for each vehicle in his motorcade. If the President refuses to pay the charges then it will be raised to £120 per vehicle.
But I wonder how the London City Hall could be so rude and impolite to their State guest, that is, the US President Barack Obama? It's hard for me to believe Londoners could be so impatient to spare some time on the street in honor of a guest. The reporter in Arab News, Abdullah Aljamili has very nicely highlighted the Arab tradition of honoring a guest, particularly the foreign ones.
Not only in Arab countries but this is the tradition in all the countries of the world including Bangladesh.Well, the norm of halting traffic is maintained to allow a foreign dignitary's motorcade pass comfortably mainly for two reason, viz. avoiding hassle and for security.
If not in exaggeration, I think, President Obama's lawyer can also move with the same amount of fines imposed upon London City Hall for the anticipated security lapses, had traffic not been halted during passing of President Obama and his motorcade through the streets of London? This will equalize the treatment.
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