International Human Rights Day

 

December 10^th has been designated International Human Rights day by the United Nations.  (UN statement) “All States and interested organizations were invited by the General Assembly in 1950 to observe 10 December as Human Rights Day (resolution 423(V)) The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.”

 

I believe this is a day, which we here in the United States should pay special attention. Our present leaders have placed Human Rights secondary to military build-up and spending.

 

Our leaders in Congress and the House have decided to decrease money to programs that support all variety of human needs, even as they increase funding for military, new more dangerous weapons, tax breaks and even pay raises for themselves.

 

Our President and Vice President have chastised other countries for their human rights abuses, torture, and indefinite imprisonment of people. Even as they condone, and occasionally encourage these actions by our own governmental entities. 

 

The moral authority that the United States previously enjoyed in the world, no longer exists. Our President and his cabinet claim we do not torture, even as they seek an exemption for the CIA from a resolution put forth by Republican Senator John Mc Cain, against torture.  Apparently the argument is, we don’t torture, but just in case we want to, give us an exemption so we won’t be breaking the law.

 

Attorney General, Alberto Gonzalez, made the bizarre claim that the Geneva Conventions, a Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, were “quaint”. Insinuating, and outright saying, that The U.S. need not abide by these international laws that we, along with 188 other countries, adopted August 12, 1949.

 

Let us all, as citizens of a purportedly enlightened, compassionate country, take the opportunity on December 10^th, to tell all elected representatives that we citizens who elected them, want to return to the long held values of the United States.  Tell them that Human Rights and Dignity in living are the most important issue for our country, and that we expect them, our representatives, the President, the CIA, and the military, to honor these principles.