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What is Human Rights?
Related to country: China

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The term ‘human rights’ is thrown around a bit too casually nowadays. Particularly in this generation, we hear it all the time, everywhere—from the mouths of people around us to mass media. But what does it really mean?

Human rights is a complex concept that has different definitions for different people and different governments of the world. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) vaguely defines human rights as the “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.” But it is important to note that the UDHR was created in 1948 as a response to the atrocities committed during World War II, and is a document not so much universal as greatly influenced by Western ideology and concepts of human rights. This fact is illustrated by Article 17 of the Declaration, which states, “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.” Such an assertion does not correlate with, for example, the official state ideology of China’s communist government, which enforces a system by which the state owns all the land. That is not to discount the UDHR’s merits; rather, one should understand the historical context in which a government chooses to perform certain actions before condemning those actions to be in violation of human rights.

China is often a target of this type of western moral imperialism. It seems to me that every move the country makes—however minor—western media is there to point fingers and criticize without taking the time to fully understand the complexity of a particular situation. For example, many journalists tend to simplify and sensationalize the Tibetan movement for independence from China. They publish biased articles skewed towards the Tibetan view without consulting Chinese perspectives, and oftentimes publish images (i.e. handcuffs fashioned in the likeness of Olympic rings, depictions of "evil chinamen" that exaggerate sino features) meant to dehumanize the Chinese people in a bid to perpetuate the malicious stereotype of ‘yellow peril,’ a term used to characterize the alleged threat to Western nations by East Asians. This type of yellow journalism has been seen time and time again in coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis of 2003. Such instances of reductionist reporting can prove to be very dangerous, and may prompt prejudicial hatred towards a particular group.

I am not an apologist for China, but I am an apologist for impartial, ethical reporting and an open-minded definition of human rights. Journalism should be a means of promoting dialogue amongst people—not a platform for personal biases. Save that for the editorial page.

- ANITA LI

August 16, 2008 | 12:10 AM Comments  4 comments

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adham5555 Adham Tobail
August 16, 2008 | 10:35 AM

wheres human rights in the world
kinkysmiths Georgia
August 16, 2008 | 12:34 PM

We as human beings have the right to act as equals in human relationships, and relationships with other people. We have the right to act as we choose without harming others. This gives us the right to define human rights for ourselves, for we each may have our own definition.

The vague definition of an organisation does not make this the real meaning, nor does it guarantee that the rights for humans are being met.
Seanamo Sean Amos
August 19, 2008 | 3:56 AM
Do you know what Human Rights are?
Every person is entitled to certain rights – simply by the fact that they are a human being. They are "rights" because they are things you are allowed to be, to do or to have. These rights are there for your protection against people who might want to harm or hurt you. They are also there to help us get along with each other and live in peace.

Many people know something about their rights. They know they have a right to be paid for the work they do and they have a right to vote. But there exist many other rights.

When human rights are not well known by people, abuses such as discrimination, intolerance, injustice, oppression and slavery can arise.

Born out of the atrocities and enormous loss of life during World War II, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created by the United Nations to provide a common understanding of what everyone’s rights are. It forms the basis for a world built on freedom, justice and peace.

To read more, log on to:

http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/introduction/index.html
anita1415 Anita Li
August 19, 2008 | 12:14 PM
Re: Sean Amos' comment
I fully support the idea that humans are entitled to certain fundamental rights; but II am merely questioning this blind following of "human rights" (in the vein of imposing one's view on another), without any clear idea of what it really entails; is that not just as oppressive as taking away one's rights?

When George Bush invaded Iraq, he defended his actions as pro-human rights and pro-democracy; yet, the US has caused much chaos and devasation there.

I am aware that there are genuine human rights advocates; but I wanted to question the intention behind some of this rhetoric
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