Published on OurFuture.org (http://www.ourfuture.org)

George Bush's devotion to human rights

By Rick Perlstein

Created 09/25/2007 - 11:08pm

A twisted little hypocrite said this today [1] at the United Nations. Since he's our president, he said it in your and my name:

Sixty years ago, representatives from 16 nations gathered to begin deliberations on a new international bill of rights. The document they produced is called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- and it stands as a landmark achievement in the history of human liberty. It opens by recognizing "the inherent dignity" and the "equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family" as "the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world." And as we gather for this 62nd General Assembly, the standards of the Declaration must guide our work in this world.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Let's review [2].

Article 1.

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. [3]

Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.... [4]

Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. [5]

Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. [6]

Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. [7]

Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law. [8]

Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. [9]

Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law. [10]

Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. [11]

Article 10.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him. [12]

Article 11.

Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. [13]

Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation.... [14]

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Article 14.

Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.... [15]

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Article 16.

Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family... [16]

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Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. [17]

Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. [18]

Article 20.

Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association... [19]

Article 21.

Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. [20]

Article 22.

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality. [21]

Article 23.

...Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work... [22]

Article 24.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. [23]

Article 25.

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family... [24]

Article 26.

Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. [25]

Yes, upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is exactly what the Bush administration is all about.

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The Big Con

Links:
[1] http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070925-4.html
[2] http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_Faye_Tucker#Karla_Tucker_and_George_W._Bush
[4] http://www.nybooks.com/articles/20401
[5] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/26/AR2006052602069.html
[6] http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/katrina_slavery_returns_mississippi_and_alabama?tx=3
[7] http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/
[8] http://web.amnesty.org/pages/guantanamobay-index-eng
[9] http://www.chargepadilla.org/
[10] http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGAMR511542006
[11] http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:YIW_YhC0etEJ:www.humanrightsusa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=UpDownload&file=index&req=getit&lid=36 "john yoo" "arbitrary arrest"&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us&client=firefox-a
[12] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-tomorrow/taxi-to-the-dark-side_b_46059.html
[13] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6190108
[14] http://www.alternet.org/rights/59406/
[15] http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/dont-have-to-live-like-refugee-by-digby.html
[16] http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/
[17] http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2007/09/5520_group_sues_pent.html
[18] http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/repeating_myself?tx=3
[19] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101662.html
[20] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091801158.html
[21] http://www.gop.com/
[22] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledbetter_v._Goodyear
[23] http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/overtimepay/underattack.cfm
[24] http://www.leftinthewest.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=245
[25] http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/black_high_school_students_louisiana_threatened_lynching