According to an article in the Belgian EUobserver, the US State Dept found it necessary to state in its 2008 US government report on worldwide human rights (issued Feb 25, 2009) that “the Belgian government “generally respected the human rights of its citizens,” (oh, really? I hadn’t noticed) but found several human rights ‘problems’, such as overcrowded prisons, lengthy pre-trial detention, poor detention conditions prior to expulsion and “ethnic discrimination in the job market.“
Local Belgian sources acknowledged Belgium experienced, like most EU countries, ongoing social issues, but ever so kindly suggested that the US State Dept would consider buying full-sized mirrors and a free trip down memory lane to take a long, careful look at the abysmal human rights track record of the USA. “We don’t kill our prisoners”, “nor do we deny our gay citizens basic human rights” one Belgian source noted with rising indignation. Do you personally feel the US has regained its “moral authority” to start pointing fingers at the world regarding “human rights abuses” in other countries?
This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by the city of Antwerp, Belgium.
Bible: “”He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone”
Comment by Matthew — March 2, 2009 @ 1:26 pm |
I read the 2008 US State Department report on human rights, only to notice that it often condemns “societal discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation” in numerous foreign countries, a behaviour that is commonplace in several US states.
In answering your question I feel that the USA has no longer any moral authority to start pointing fingers at the world regarding human rights abuses in other countries.
[Blog author: "Thank you for commenting from the UK Matthew. Like you mentioned, US finger-pointing seems inappropriate to say the least in these troubled times. "]
Comment by Matthew — March 2, 2009 @ 5:20 pm |
that was in 2008 when we still had an a**hole for prez. but things are different now.
[Blog author: "I was relieved to notice the difference is slowly becoming visible Denis: (today): "We cannot ask other nations to stand by us in the pursuit of justice if we are not viewed as being in pursuit of that ideal ourselves" - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, March 2, 2009"]
Comment by denis desjarlais — March 2, 2009 @ 5:45 pm |
::slaps forehead:: OMG, may I just say please ignore my ridiculous country when it does this kind of thing. We have no business whatsoever peering down our noses at anybody, and never will. An interesting snippet: in California, our prisons are so overcrowded, they are at TWICE their safe capacity. Talk about glass houses…
I cringe at the zeal of some in America to decide that there is one right way to live, that they know what that is, and that they’re the ones to police the whole world to make sure everybody toes the line. I guess I’d like our species to get over this whole idea of being indignant about what *other* people are doing. What would the world be like if we all managed to keep an eye on growing and nurturing compassion and humanity in ourselves and trust others to do the same?
My personal longing for America is a return a core ideal: a flexible, welcoming society in which each person is free to pursue happiness and their full expression as human beings regardless of their religion, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, desire to eat meat or not, have blue hair, piercings, open marriages, no marriages, tendency to say ‘umm’ at the beginning of sentences, tax bracket, preference for the red pill or the blue pill, or any other variable.
I’ve heard Americans talk about restoring the country to leadership. Well, I’d say that if we inspire the world with the care and compassion we demonstrate, with the support and welcome we provide to people of all stripes, maybe the world will be delighted to follow our example without our having to “rate” how they’re doing. Pretty hard to “rate” anybody else with a straight face when we obviously suck. So far we got big talk, but walk, not so much.
Good heavens, my dear, you must have hit a nerve. I beg your pardon. But do take heart! Us Americans ain’t all ignora-mooses! We’re working on it.
[Blog author: "Thanks Holly, your comment was much appreciated (well, you once were a neighbor in Antwerp, so your opinion is valued). I liked the way you pictured your personal longing and expressed your hope for a new, brighter future, a longing we all share. I've often read these rather silly US State Dept reports on the 'sad state of the world' during the Bush horror-years, knowing how bad the situation in the US had become, while hoping for a breath of fresh air. And I'm convinced the situation can only get better under the Obama administration. "]
Comment by Holly — March 2, 2009 @ 9:39 pm |
Every government on this planet commits human rights abuses in one form or another, to varying degrees. For one government to call out another on this issue is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
What will happen here in the U.S.? Only time will tell. My finely tuned sense of cynicism says that while some things will change, most things will remain the same.
[Blog author: "I feel the same Mr. Nighttime: the US State Dept World reports do need some fine-tuning and self-reflection. Although they do tend to list facts, many of these facts are remarkably selective in their choice. I guess your finely tuned sense of cynicism may well be on target regarding the US. "]
Comment by Mr. Nighttime — March 2, 2009 @ 10:23 pm |