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This is in response to a letter published Aug. 27, from Carter Rawlings. “It’s sad, but he should have known it was going to happen.”
I’m sure, Mr. Rawlings, that you did not write your letter to intentionally cause pain to the Babo family or then, supporters, but you have.
As is too often the case with those who express their opinions in the paper, you are sadly mistaken about the facts concerning Serge Babo and his deportation and in that you are as your letter ends “a very sad person.”
Serge did not come to this country with an athletic team. He was brought here with the intention of being sold by the deceiver who, when finding out this could not be done, abandoned him.
He had no option to “stay with his athletic team” because there was none.
You claim that our country is “filled by thousands and thousands of illegal people taking jobs...” but Serge was a social worker at a home for troubled children and teens. I don’t believe you will find “thousands” standing in line with the heart, compassion, ability and desire to work with these kids who grew to respect and love him.
As to your statement that “he has been dodging the authorities ... for 10 years,” Serge got a college education, paid state, local and federal taxes, was approved for a loan and given a Social Security number, did meaningful work at a state-supported facility and filed his status regularly. This is how ICE knew where to go to pick him up.
He did not completely know “what he was doing and the consequences if caught.” He made the mistake of believing the advice given by a less-than-qualified lawyer. That was his mistake.
When our system sees no way to forgive his righteous man and allows a convicted felon to remain in this country in a state funded prison, there is something wrong with the system.
If you are truly, as you stated in your letter, praying for the Babo family please continue to do so. He is living in Cameroon with his welcoming family in a home with no running water or toilet facilities, waiting for the U.S. Embassy there to recognize his situation and begin to do whatever call be done to reunite him with his family and friends in West Virginia.
I will forgive you, Mr. Rawlings, but please learn from your mistakes and be absolutely positive of your “facts” before publishing them again.
Marie Wagoner
Fort Ashby, W.Va.
Opinion
System was wrong to punish a righteous man
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