FREE ESSAY ON HUMAN RIGHTS

HUMAN RIGHTS

Human rights are universal, indivisible, and interdependent. Human rights are what make us
human. When we speak of the right to life, or development, or to dissent and diversity,
we are speaking of tolerance. Tolerance will ensure all freedoms. Without it, we can be
certain of none. 
The raging ethnic cleansing in Kosho is an example of intolerance. The Serbian's will not
tolerate the Albanians at any cost. They are forcing them from their homes, turning the
streets into killing fields. This civil war seems unstoppable because of the intolerance
of one race against another. No respect for individual rights, basic human rights. 
Another example is right in our own back yard. I am speaking of hate crimes, which plague
our society. They are no different today than centuries ago when slavery was allowed. One
race against another. One religion against another, it is all the same. Hate is the
opposite of tolerance. We can only live together through an expression of tolerance of
the differences each of us brings into this world. We should embrace the differences and
share the differences. For this is how we learn, through each others differences.
Tolerance in all cultures is the basis of peace and progress. 
Our country was founded on the basic idea that all man and women are created equal with
liberty and justice for all. We must respect and preserve the rights of all, for when the
rights of one is threatened the rights of all are diminished. I would like to leave you
with this story to ponder. In Germany, they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak
up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I
was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Remember tolerance and mercy have always and in all cultures been ideals of government
rule and human behavior. Today, we call these ideals human rights. Human rights are to be
respected and preserved if we are progress as a society and as a people. 
This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the
principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished
when the rights of one man are threatened. Human rights are the foundation of human
existence and coexistence. Human rights are universal, indivisible, and interdependent.
Human rights are what make us human. When we speak of the right to life, or development,
or to dissent and diversity, we are speaking of tolerance. Tolerance- - promoted,
protected and enshrined- - will ensure all freedoms. Without it, we can be certain of
none. 
Human right are those rights which are inherent in each of us by virtue of the fact the
we are members of the human species. For example, one human right would be the right to
live free from unprovoked acts of violence. Another would be the right to be recognized
and respected as a person. Without respect for each others basic human rights, organized
anything would be virtually impossible. The law of the land would be replaced by the law
of the jungle. Protection of human rights if essential for any organized society. Respect
and protection of human rights and organized government can not be separated; one can not
exist without the other. Human rights are the expression of those traditions of tolerance
in all religious and cultures that are the basis of peace and progress. Human rights are
foreign to no culture and native to all nations. Tolerance and mercy have always and in
all cultures been ideals of government rule and human behavior. Today, we call these
ideals human rights. 
The University of human rights gives them their strength. It endows them with the power
to cross any border, climb any wall, and defy any force. The struggle for universal human
rights has always and everywhere been the struggle against all forms of tyranny and
injustice- -against slavery, against colonialism, against apartheid. It is nothing less
and nothing different today. Our great country was founded on the basic idea that all man
is created equal with liberty and justice for all. We must remember with rights comes
responsibility. The responsibility to respect and preserve the rights of all. I would
like to leave you with this story to ponder. In Germany, they came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I
didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I
didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and
I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time no
one was left to speak up. If we expect our rights to be respected and protected, we must
speak up to preserve human rights for all humanity. We must become watchdogs of our
government to insure that human rights will be respected and protected, for without human
rights there is no organized government.