The Independent Variable

Letters from an American

The final document began with a preamble explaining that a UDHR was necessary because “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,” and because “disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind.” Because “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,” the preamble said, “human rights should be protected by the rule of law.”

Richardson goes on to list all the rights that are included under the United Nations human rights and it sure feels like America doesn’t give a fuck about 70% of those rights now.

I enjoyed this bit:

The U.S. government did not recognize Human Rights Day this year.

Instead, Humeyra Pamuk of Reuters reported, administration officials are threatening to place sanctions on the International Criminal Court to guarantee it will not investigate Trump and his top officials.

Who needs human rights when you have bigger bombs, I guess? We are devolving back to a world where might means right, and unfortunately, we are the bad guys this time.