Universal Rights???
Barack Obama stated in his comments recently:
The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.
There is a fly in the ointment here because the perceived notion of universal rights ARE NOT universally held. Were that true we would have a very different world than the one we are confronting. Ideas of the world as held by citizens of the U.S. and the reality differ. As long as we are unwilling to make an accommodation for that reality we will be at odds with other political units around the world. Pressident Obama, like many before him, has failed to acknowledge this. We can try to change this but it places us in direct conflict with other political units which take exception to our projecting our ideas upon their societies. We reject, out of hand, any idea of China or Iran or any other nation projecting their concept of governance and social order upon us. Why then do we think we hold any right to project ours upon them? Arguments of moral authority don't hold up very well either. That is unless you are willing to close your eyes to our many transgressions and those of U.S. corporations.
Until we honestly and objectively address the social, political and financial disenfranchisement of various classes of persons in our country it is hypocritical to project our ideals upon others.
Did you miss this?
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
"On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories." "
How many Americans even know about this?
June 21, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good point Bluebell! I believe Obama was indeed referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which, I do believe, applies universally whether or not a nation was a signatory.
Of course, as a signatory, Obama speaks as the leader of a massively hypocritical government that routinely violates some of the basice premises of the Declaration.
I encourage everyone to read it and see just how far short the US falls in observing it. Then I challenge all to work toward making compliance a reality here in America.
June 21, 2009 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
It should be required reading for members of Congress particularly those chairing committees dealing with our civil liberties, human rights and healthcare.
I know we've made some practical improvements since 1948 but we seem to have lost the idealism that inspired them so I'm not so confident about the future.
June 21, 2009 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
It does not apply, in any legal sense, unless a signatory is involved.
June 21, 2009 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
And, to be precise, the main documents that are actually binding (the declaration is just a declaration even though it has had de facto legal effects) are the ICCPR (civil and political) and ICESCR (economic, social and cultural.)
They, and other texts, are here.
June 21, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll admit to not having known this document existed. Quite a read. I wish we weren't so far away from reaizing it.
June 21, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
How many members of congress understood even the Declaration of Independence when they passed the Patriot Act?
I knew about the UN document (indeed, it is to a large measure influenced by our founding documents) but thepeoplechoose's basic point is well taken: it would be helpful for the US to lead by example in situations like this.
June 21, 2009 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh yes, thank goodness for the Founding Documents without which no-one might have ever invented Freedom etc. *eyeroll*
June 21, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
You show an utter lack of basic historical knowledge if you don't understand how the Declaration of Independence is a majorly unique document, on the scale of Hammurabi's Code and the Magna Carter.
June 21, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh dearie me. I think I forgot to do my prayers today too.
*grovel in general direction of the Founding Documents*
June 21, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Declaration of Independence is perhaps, the most eloquent expression of the Lockean pilosophical view of society and government. As such, it is a uniquely historic document and has and continues to have an inspirational effect among people the world over.
The basic ideas of Locke have defined how we view freedom, liberty, and the interdependence of human beings in society. The ideas of the social contract and natural rights has had profound influence upon the world. This philosophy is deeply rooted in The Enlightenment and continues to be revolutionary in many respects.
The basic idea of the consent of the governed being necessary for government to be legitimate is being played out right now in Iran.
June 21, 2009 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the height of the age of reason to be sure.
June 22, 2009 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
This could be true but there is present some uncertainty as well. To the extent this is accompanied by an inexplicable illogic casts a long shadow.
Case in point is the Iraq war which was undertaken in spite of ambiguous intelligence to support the action. Another major one would be the financial collapse where the obvious regulatory shortcomings and reckless conduct of our major financial institutions were the principal contributors. A third would be the all too obvious health care cost increases over a long period of time where there has been a glaring disconnect from actual inflation.
It should not go unnoticed that the illogic here, in good measure, was not an illogic of the general public, but one of congress.
I think it fair to conclude the political and the logical have nothing in common.
June 22, 2009 5:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Besides the End of Days scenerio, the other big myth that fuels the repub engine is fear of world order.
At times they will speak incessantly about it.
Of course they are really for a world order. With us in charge and with rules that only apply to other countries.
June 21, 2009 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
More of an orderly world than a world order?
June 21, 2009 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah Jonnie, you said it.
June 21, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink