More on Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

* All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."


This is reminiscent of  "All men are created equal..." plus there is an acknowledgment that women and children are also born free and equal in relation to dignity and rights. Being "endowed with reason and conscience" human beings "should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." These are values embedded in most religious or spiritual traditions.

What would it mean to really hold to the idea that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights? Would it mean that we could ignore their deaths? Torture them? Kill them? Is this acting towards them in a spirit of brotherhood? Would we condemn such free and equal beings to lives of poverty and ignorance? Would we refuse to help them develop their reason and their consciences, or stand by while they were being abused by parents, peers, spouses, political adversaries, or police/militaries?

The news media are full of stories about people being attacked, assaulted, disrespected, going hungry, homeless, fleeing violence, fleeing environmental devastation. We collectively need to make these values real, to base our actions on these values, rather than paying lip service to them and then acting in ways that openly contradict what we pretend to profess.

Listening to Jim Wallis talking about the great divides in our nation and others, divisions of gender, race and class, I was impressed with his grasp of the need to state wrongs that have been done, apologize for them and make reparations. This reminds me of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, in which those who committed crimes during apartheid were allowed to confess these crimes publicly and given amnesty. That is a different story than the one I wrote about yesterday that is taking place in Argentina. The defendants have plead not guilty in spite of the fact that they were in power in the 1980's when thousands were killed, tortured, disappeared under their military government in Argentina.

May our respect for the dignity of each person be increased, may we acutely feel their pain when our actions rob others of their rights and dignity, may our consciences and reason speak to us loudly and may we act always in the spirit of brotherhood. May we acknowledge the wrongs we do to others, apologize and make reparations. May we who live in privilege understand that the price for our privilege was paid by others who had no choice but to do what benefited us far more than it did them. May we understand that we need to make reparations to them and/or their descendants for what has been taken from them.

United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

After posting on praying the news on another blog throughout October, I've decided to blog here about praying the news in relation to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I will be doing this at least through November. 

Here's a little background on this decision. One issue that appeared frequently in newspapers and blogs throughout much of September and October was the issue of health care reform. Many people were suggesting that "health care is a right," while others were claiming, "health care is not a right." I remembered that some time ago I had read in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that health care was one of those universal rights.

The United Nations Charter had acknowledged that there are basic human rights. According to this site the preamble to the U.N. Charter stated "We the peoples of the United Nations [are] determined -
.. to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small". 

As the cruelties against the Jews of Europe and against prisoners of war in Europe and Asia became widely known, it seemed necessary to specify what those fundamental human rights are, so there would be no possible misunderstanding.  The United Nations decided to establish a commission to accomplish the task. The UDHR was drafted by a commission Eleanor Roosevelt chaired. According to Wikipedia "The membership of the Commission was designed to be broadly representative of the global community with representatives of the following countries serving: Australia, Belgium, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Chile,  China, Cuba, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Lebanon, Panama, Philippines, United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. Well known members of the Commission included Eleanor Roosevelt of the United States, who was Chairman, Jacques Maritain and René Cassin of France, Charles Malik of Lebanon and P. C. Chang of China, among others." 

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on December 10, 1948, with 48 in favor, no nation opposed, and eight abstentions.  It was the first time the nations of the world had mutually specified basic human rights to which all people are entitled.

Preamble
The Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads:

• Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
• Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
• Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
• Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
• Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
• Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
• Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
• Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

How we need to heed these words now! Let us "keep this Declaration constantly in mind, ... and strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures...secure their universal and effective recognition and observance."