Seventy-five years ago today, on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly announced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). At a time when the world was still reeling from the death and destruction of World War II, the Soviet Union was blockading Berlin, Italy and France were convulsed with communist-backed labor agitation, Arabs opposed the new state of Israel, communists and nationalists battled in China, and segregationists in the U.S. were forming their own political party to stop the government from protecting civil rights for Black Americans, the member countries of the United Nations nonetheless came together to adopt a landmark document: a common standard of fundamental rights for all human beings.
We cannot underestimate the contribution Eleanor Roosevelt has made for this country and the world. Franklin and Eleanor are the patron saints of democracy. Thanks Heather and love the early edition!
a poignant view from history and done at a time when the world was so nearly divided along the lines of rights and wrongs. And Blinken is correct in that we have made progress, and that there is still so much to do...but I have to wonder as to human nature and the devils and angels that exist within our own psyche...and if we are not struggling with these en-masse. How fortunate we are to have had the Roosevelts from that bygone time to light a candle v cursing the darkness. May we continue to follow the way lit back then in both our personal and collective lives. As always Dr. Richardson, our thanks for keeping us grounded in our past, and looking to a brighter future.
Ironically the Black petition “We Charge Genocide” documenting the lynching and torture of American Blacks drafted by William Patterson Oaul Robeson and W E Dubois was not allowed to be presented. Roosevelt had it confiscated on its way to France. Because she was afraid that the White Southern Dixiecrats would block the US approval. Roosevelt knew she could not defeat them as we know even today how much control they have over our country, how they have spread their doctrine of White supremacy in many places in our land, and now are trying to bring a would be dictator to power. Let us not turn a blind eye to this contradiction and weakness in the highest efforts of liberals to secure freedom and equality. Denial will be our undoing. As we saw in the dreadful attacks on college presidents in Congress the MAGA effort to unseat our liberal strongholds is now beginning in anticipation of the time when they hope to jail journalists and take over our educational system. (PS intifada does not mean genocide it means uprising not necessarily violence—our liberal media didn’t even bother to check that manipulation, so submissive were they). If liberals do not take a strong stance against and expose the true intentions behind such attacks we will be overtaken by their manipulations.
All too often we forget--just imagine the horrors that might have occurred had we not had the UN and the declaration of human rights. It's too easy to condemn the organization as weak and disabled. In fact, it has brought strength and hope to many parts of the world. I am embarrassed by my own country's inability to support the call for a ceasefire in the current Middle East conflict, but I'm glad the UN is on the ground, monitoring things on all sides.
As you can see, I am a subscriber to your letters. Your column today, on the universal declaration of human rights occasion me to write to you with respect to same.
I was formally an American, but left the United States in 1969 rather than participate in the genocide in Vietnam. I am a lawyer now and live in the small town of Hampton New Brunswick.
You may or may not be aware that our hometown boy, John peters Humphrey, was asked by Eleanor Roosevelt to write the first draft of the universal declaration of human rights and did so. He is greatly honoured in our little town, and we have a statue of him as an adult and also as a boy. When he was a boy, he played with matches, and ended up losing his arm.
Thank you for doing this column which I read every day and was “turned on to it by my high school, classmate, Russell, Gamber, DO(ret.).
Thank you for the details. As a high school student I had to learn details (population, products, geographical position) of countries as they joined the UN. Seeing Tryg Vlie’s name again after all these years (still cannot spell it) was a treat. It still fascinates this non-Scandanavian. What a precious gift to try to live up to. I hope the new Speaker of the House reads this letter and puts down his Bible long enough to understand the UN charter.
It is in the striving that we will find our fulfillment of freedom and democracy, because it will never be obtainable—only worthy of pursuit, to ensure it is protected from the backsliding to authoritarianism that always beckons humanity, like the Sirens’ deadly call.
One of the only places in the world where the UDHR Articles are on permanent public display is Boise, Idaho. The engraved tablets are part of the Anne Frank Memorial, the only memorial to her in the United States. It's an awe-inspiring public space and Stop No. 1 for any visitor to Boise., and a regular stop for many residents. https://annefrankmemorial.org/anne-frank-memorial-background/
I too thank Heather both for her early posting, and for her magnificent letter detailing and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I note that Eleanor Roosevelt's husband, President Franklin Roosevelt was the author of the magnificent Four Freedoms speech which was clearly one of the inspirational touchstones for the UDHR. I would imagine he would be rolling in his grave if he were to realize that the Governors of the two largest Southern States, Texas and Florida, states that voted regularly for him (Texas of course, producing his first VP, John "Cactus Jack" Garner), have gone out of their way to intentionally violate both the spirit and the letter of the UDHR with their cowardly exploitation and bullying of innocent immigrants.
Broadening my gaze beyond the shores of our gun loving Nation under Jesus, I would be remiss if I did not note that the current egregious violation of human rights being rained down upon the people of Gaza by the fascist and racist Israeli Likud government funded unremittingly by our very own, constitutes a paradigmatic traducing of the UDHR.
I like Secretary Blinken, but did he realize whom the bell tolls for when he stated that "Too often, authorities fail to protect or--worse--trample on human rights and fundamental freedoms, often in the name of security or to maintain their grip on power"?!?
Hopefully people in this country will read this and start living by it! It’s for damn sure we aren’t following it today. With Trump able to do as he dies, the abuse he serves up to others, and has served up. It’s in direct violation of the UDHR.
Something else, on a personal note. I gave over 26 years of my life serving the public in public service employment. Since I was forced to retire, and denied my medical by the state retirement board of Florida 28 years ago, my life has been a living hell. That cost me everything to the point where I ended up homeless, without medication, my oxygen, nothing. I almost died. Yet, reading this about the UDHR that was adopted by all these nations, including the United States, I’m questioning how it’s being followed now with all the homelessness in this country, our treatment of those trying to enter this country to find a better life than what they have in their communist countries, or dr g filled countries.
Is this how we treat our sick, elderly, and those seeking asylum?
The UDHR was one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, and Mrs. Roosevelt one of the greatest spokespeople for human rights. The fact that the document expresses aspirations does not diminish its value. Before that time, such a document would have been unthinkable, or seemingly foolhardy.
The United States of America doesn’t give a hoot about human rights, nor a rules-based order. Anyone who believes this is a fool. Everything our government does is based on a wish for American hegemony. If human rights and rules-based order fits the hegemony, we offer up platitudes to both. If neither does, we ignore both.
Is support for genocide a desire for human rights or rules? I think not.
Hmm. Human rights? My guess would be that the UN is questioning what is happening in the US. I believe our democracy is on some type of watch list concerning the condition of our democratic values & it may be predicting the demise of those values.
Women's rights are being stripped away.
Humans have very little support in dealing with democracy in the US, while corporations are now considered "people" & they can wield considerably more power than our government because they can buy votes & legislators. And while this new type of person flexes it's power, real people are losing more true representation. Gerrymandering has to be stopped! Voting must be made easier to do. It's time to pass an amendment to outlaw gerrymandering & to eliminate the electoral college. The electoral college was a compromise devised to be sure the more sparsely populated south with a higher number of slaves then of men eligible to participate in government would join with the northern states to become the United States.
Our country was founded & prospered on the backs of indigenous people & slaves.
And it seems like we are heading backwards in human rights. It's hard to encourage people around the world to respect one another when we can't respect ourselves.
We cannot underestimate the contribution Eleanor Roosevelt has made for this country and the world. Franklin and Eleanor are the patron saints of democracy. Thanks Heather and love the early edition!
a poignant view from history and done at a time when the world was so nearly divided along the lines of rights and wrongs. And Blinken is correct in that we have made progress, and that there is still so much to do...but I have to wonder as to human nature and the devils and angels that exist within our own psyche...and if we are not struggling with these en-masse. How fortunate we are to have had the Roosevelts from that bygone time to light a candle v cursing the darkness. May we continue to follow the way lit back then in both our personal and collective lives. As always Dr. Richardson, our thanks for keeping us grounded in our past, and looking to a brighter future.
My sincere hope is that there is a renewal of commitment to the tenants of the original Charter of the United Nations
Ironically the Black petition “We Charge Genocide” documenting the lynching and torture of American Blacks drafted by William Patterson Oaul Robeson and W E Dubois was not allowed to be presented. Roosevelt had it confiscated on its way to France. Because she was afraid that the White Southern Dixiecrats would block the US approval. Roosevelt knew she could not defeat them as we know even today how much control they have over our country, how they have spread their doctrine of White supremacy in many places in our land, and now are trying to bring a would be dictator to power. Let us not turn a blind eye to this contradiction and weakness in the highest efforts of liberals to secure freedom and equality. Denial will be our undoing. As we saw in the dreadful attacks on college presidents in Congress the MAGA effort to unseat our liberal strongholds is now beginning in anticipation of the time when they hope to jail journalists and take over our educational system. (PS intifada does not mean genocide it means uprising not necessarily violence—our liberal media didn’t even bother to check that manipulation, so submissive were they). If liberals do not take a strong stance against and expose the true intentions behind such attacks we will be overtaken by their manipulations.
All too often we forget--just imagine the horrors that might have occurred had we not had the UN and the declaration of human rights. It's too easy to condemn the organization as weak and disabled. In fact, it has brought strength and hope to many parts of the world. I am embarrassed by my own country's inability to support the call for a ceasefire in the current Middle East conflict, but I'm glad the UN is on the ground, monitoring things on all sides.
Ms. Richardson,
As you can see, I am a subscriber to your letters. Your column today, on the universal declaration of human rights occasion me to write to you with respect to same.
I was formally an American, but left the United States in 1969 rather than participate in the genocide in Vietnam. I am a lawyer now and live in the small town of Hampton New Brunswick.
You may or may not be aware that our hometown boy, John peters Humphrey, was asked by Eleanor Roosevelt to write the first draft of the universal declaration of human rights and did so. He is greatly honoured in our little town, and we have a statue of him as an adult and also as a boy. When he was a boy, he played with matches, and ended up losing his arm.
Thank you for doing this column which I read every day and was “turned on to it by my high school, classmate, Russell, Gamber, DO(ret.).
David M. Lutz, K.C
Thank you for the details. As a high school student I had to learn details (population, products, geographical position) of countries as they joined the UN. Seeing Tryg Vlie’s name again after all these years (still cannot spell it) was a treat. It still fascinates this non-Scandanavian. What a precious gift to try to live up to. I hope the new Speaker of the House reads this letter and puts down his Bible long enough to understand the UN charter.
It is in the striving that we will find our fulfillment of freedom and democracy, because it will never be obtainable—only worthy of pursuit, to ensure it is protected from the backsliding to authoritarianism that always beckons humanity, like the Sirens’ deadly call.
Love these bite size pieces of history.
One of the only places in the world where the UDHR Articles are on permanent public display is Boise, Idaho. The engraved tablets are part of the Anne Frank Memorial, the only memorial to her in the United States. It's an awe-inspiring public space and Stop No. 1 for any visitor to Boise., and a regular stop for many residents. https://annefrankmemorial.org/anne-frank-memorial-background/
Good Evening to All!
I too thank Heather both for her early posting, and for her magnificent letter detailing and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I note that Eleanor Roosevelt's husband, President Franklin Roosevelt was the author of the magnificent Four Freedoms speech which was clearly one of the inspirational touchstones for the UDHR. I would imagine he would be rolling in his grave if he were to realize that the Governors of the two largest Southern States, Texas and Florida, states that voted regularly for him (Texas of course, producing his first VP, John "Cactus Jack" Garner), have gone out of their way to intentionally violate both the spirit and the letter of the UDHR with their cowardly exploitation and bullying of innocent immigrants.
Broadening my gaze beyond the shores of our gun loving Nation under Jesus, I would be remiss if I did not note that the current egregious violation of human rights being rained down upon the people of Gaza by the fascist and racist Israeli Likud government funded unremittingly by our very own, constitutes a paradigmatic traducing of the UDHR.
I like Secretary Blinken, but did he realize whom the bell tolls for when he stated that "Too often, authorities fail to protect or--worse--trample on human rights and fundamental freedoms, often in the name of security or to maintain their grip on power"?!?
Hopefully people in this country will read this and start living by it! It’s for damn sure we aren’t following it today. With Trump able to do as he dies, the abuse he serves up to others, and has served up. It’s in direct violation of the UDHR.
Something else, on a personal note. I gave over 26 years of my life serving the public in public service employment. Since I was forced to retire, and denied my medical by the state retirement board of Florida 28 years ago, my life has been a living hell. That cost me everything to the point where I ended up homeless, without medication, my oxygen, nothing. I almost died. Yet, reading this about the UDHR that was adopted by all these nations, including the United States, I’m questioning how it’s being followed now with all the homelessness in this country, our treatment of those trying to enter this country to find a better life than what they have in their communist countries, or dr g filled countries.
Is this how we treat our sick, elderly, and those seeking asylum?
Really?
The UDHR was one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, and Mrs. Roosevelt one of the greatest spokespeople for human rights. The fact that the document expresses aspirations does not diminish its value. Before that time, such a document would have been unthinkable, or seemingly foolhardy.
The United States of America doesn’t give a hoot about human rights, nor a rules-based order. Anyone who believes this is a fool. Everything our government does is based on a wish for American hegemony. If human rights and rules-based order fits the hegemony, we offer up platitudes to both. If neither does, we ignore both.
Is support for genocide a desire for human rights or rules? I think not.
Hedges lays bare our hypocritical sin here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly6lfhOxTe0
So early tonight,Heather! Good for you!: Hope your week isn't too bad!
Hmm. Human rights? My guess would be that the UN is questioning what is happening in the US. I believe our democracy is on some type of watch list concerning the condition of our democratic values & it may be predicting the demise of those values.
Women's rights are being stripped away.
Humans have very little support in dealing with democracy in the US, while corporations are now considered "people" & they can wield considerably more power than our government because they can buy votes & legislators. And while this new type of person flexes it's power, real people are losing more true representation. Gerrymandering has to be stopped! Voting must be made easier to do. It's time to pass an amendment to outlaw gerrymandering & to eliminate the electoral college. The electoral college was a compromise devised to be sure the more sparsely populated south with a higher number of slaves then of men eligible to participate in government would join with the northern states to become the United States.
Our country was founded & prospered on the backs of indigenous people & slaves.
And it seems like we are heading backwards in human rights. It's hard to encourage people around the world to respect one another when we can't respect ourselves.