Examples of Human Rights Hypocrisy

Apr 16th, 2008, in IM Posts, Opinion, by Guest Writer

View the original article here.

36 Comments on “Examples of Human Rights Hypocrisy”

Pages: « 1 [2]

Ana Says:
May 4th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Dear all

Forgive me I’m not that good in talking, but this post is most intriguing… I have tons of things to say in my head but not sure where to start! Go easy on me:)

But first, what are human rights? Sending UK troops into action without proper kit has been criticised recently as a breach of the soldiers’ human rights. But is it really or is it more of a case of neglect? Until we have our definition standardised correctly, human rights will remain as vague symbols that only human right lawyers can decipher.

Timdog & Sylvester,

Thanks for raising a lot of points, some of which are valid and some interesting.

…as an Indonesian who has been working in the UK’s public-services sector for the past few years, I have the privilege to learn from those with firsthand experiences of poverty. I agree that the individual experiences of poverty between those from rich and poorer countries are indeed different. The UK poor (often associated as crime offenders and benefit receipt) appear to bear the label of parasites and often socially excluded. The poorest in Indonesia are often more pitied rather than stigmatised, may be as the richer Indonesians are not enforced to render any form of support. However, the poor there form the majority of the population and, correct me if I’m wrong, are able to stick together in closer community. This has in turn makes them more resilient. But because of lack of nationwide support, they are often denied the very basic needs of food & shelter, let alone health service and education. So all the same, their human rights are suffering. And you have got to be joking to think that any politicians have genuine concerns about human rights (oooppsss, I just committed the generalising offence). But I constantly have to work with my hands tied by targets, new policies and the limited resources and defying low work morale surrounding on a daily basis (wow didn’t know public moaning is such a gratifying vent:) ). No government ever care for their own poorest citizens and any acts they do are for the sake of formality and at times counterattack the cause. No, the advocates of human rights have to be every individual in the society for the principle to actually work. If grabbing the Olympic torch makes one feel that’s a valid contribution then alas, I rest my case! How come human rights abuse only becomes sexy when it makes controversial political news? I can’t afford going all the way to Iraq/Tibet/ET to get their side of story. Around me, there are neglected human right cases of individuals with mental illnesses, child abuse, domestic violence victims, and the homeless (I can also add asylum seekers but then it will open a whole new debate!). These problems probably happen in our own neighbourhood as we speak. Human rights hypocrisy is not right, but as part of a blind and deaf society we are all guilty as charged. We tend to continuously passing the bucks as far as possible from our comfortable corners. I now truly understand why being content to act and leaving the talking to others is not always easy. Hence, this humble piece of opinion:)

Kindest regards
Ana
Jian Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I like Ana’s comment much. To me, the concept “human right” itself is a hypocrisy. It is too general and artificial. We only need to be kind, then “human right” is automatic. Did the Buddha or Christ mentioned HR at all? I like the comment by a master Monk ( Jing Kong, if readers happen to know): “If you ask me if I have HR? I would say I don’t! Do I have the right to be 18 years young forever? Yes I do! But can I have it?!”

Such artificial conception often shows the laziness of the person who fansies he could control all situiations by sticking with one rigid concept while life itself is infinitely possible and demands spantaneous committment but the celebration of a fashionable concept. Ana mentioned a perfect example: the invaders to Iraq complained that their HR wasn’t respected since they were not well prepared enough. The artificially intended nature of the concept of HR naturally makes it vulnerable to abuse, hence its hypocrisy is almost natural. What is truly missing is people’s sincerity and willingness. In USA, nowadays, if one uses the word “niger” (a word used to humiliate Africans during slavery), the police can arrest the individual. That sounds very respectful for black people, yet in reality, black people are still descriminated, people just don’t say the word openly. If people’s heart sticks with the same illness, what is the good of a concept that must be guarded by police? It is even more humiliating, is it not?

As well, tracing the history of this concept (and its like, “freedom” etc.), it was made precisely by the western world who abused it the most. This in my view is not purely a co-incident.

Let’s forget “human right”, and just be kind to others!
timdog Says:
May 8th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Ana – thank you for your contribution. It is good to have the perspective of an Indonesian in Britain on the poor of that country. You are absolutely right – there is a very different attitude towards the poor in Britain compared to Indonesia – namely one of contempt, mockery, and ill-disguised fear (while British people are quite happy to patronise and moan over the fate of the exotic poor of other countries)…

You are also absolutey right – it is very difficult to discuss “human rights” when we have no real defined concept of what the term actually means…
S.Spacc Says:
July 1st, 2008 at 12:54 pm
You want to talk about human rights? Yes, the U.S did invade Iraq for unworthy reasons but that cannot shy away from the fact that your government would put a person to death for carrying Marijuana. A young Australian gets 20 for a transport that makes no sense even to the very people who do this sort of thing for a living? I dont care how long ago this was, your judicial system is fcked. Money may run things in my country but obviously publicity and exampling runs indonesian law.
kinch Says:
July 1st, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Have to say that I don’t have much sympathy at all for that Corby slapper. Absolutely no need for what she did to have been logical and therefore the sheer stupidity of taking coals to Newcastle is not a convincing defence. I mean just look at who she is and where she crawled out of. Best to have her out of circulation during her fertile years so that her genes stop right where they are.

Certainly the Indonesian legal system is a complete and utter farce. But occasionally it takes the garbage out and in those cases we might as well sit back and enjoy a beer since there’s no point in getting worked up about the Indonesian legal system. Won’t change a thing.

Kind of an insult to the words ‘legal’ and ‘system’… but a country which produced Farah can’t be all bad, can it?
Courtney Says:
December 8th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I want notes!
Like examples … this gives me war, WHICH I agree with but that’s one!