America and Human Rights
According to the Writer’s Almanac, it’s the birthday of the man who said, “America did not invent human rights. In a very real way, human rights invented America.” That’s Jimmy Carter, born in Plains, Georgia (1924).
This is both so correct and so incorrect at the same time. The U.S. actually is built on the principles of justice and equal opportunity as outlined in our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, not to mention more recent but no less important legislation like the Civil Rights Act. And Lord knows we do a better job at this than most other countries around the world.
Having said that, the U.S.:
• Gladly supports the regimes of tyrants when they support American economic interests
• Has political and economic policies that create miserable conditions for people all around the world
• Has a justice system that favors the wealthy at the expense of the poor
• Is shirking its responsibilities to protect the environment, which is causing an ever-growing level of suffering, to be dispensed upon the world’s people who are the least able to protect themselves.
The good news is that all Americans are free to express their views, and to band together in order to correct these systemic injustices. I only wish more people understood how powerful they are vis-a-vis changing conditions like the ones named above.
All countries have a checkered history. The U.S. is not an exception.
There has been considerable progress since 1950. However, progress is normally two steps forward and one step back. So, we should not be discouraged when there is a one step back. Instead, we should keep pushing for more steps forward.
We should also be more aware of how our policies affect people in other countries.
Yes we have made much Progress but there is so much more serious Structural Reforms needed in our society and certain segments of the public seem to be enjoying living in denial and Pretending to the end… some even want to return to some long ago Faded structures that were not in the spirit of our Nations Founding ….trust that they are actually a small but over vocal minority, aging and dying off not fast enough.
Well the many Sorrows of Empire are returning to our Shores in many different forms and some are indeed threats …..the denial that we caused these situations makes continued and needed Reforms of our body politic difficult.
Responsibility comes in many different forms. Maybe we can get to 3 Steps Forward and only a Half backward…Progress!