Human Rights, Refugees, and San Diego
Whether we are talking about the rights of Syrian refugees, the rights of black Americans, child soldiers, girls being trafficked for sex, or students being shot while at school, a discussion on human rights seems very timely. Not just because it’s Human Rights Day, but because of the upheaval that is putting record numbers of people at risk in conflicts here and around the world. In his 1941 State of the Union address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt articulated what he called the “Four Freedoms”. He asserted that people “everywhere in the world” should have: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Events this year — whether in the wake of the uncertainty and violence in the Middle East or the heated rhetoric of the Presidential debates — are testing our values as a human and humane civilization. Countries from Venezuela to China silence political prisoners who dare to speak out. A U.S. presidential candidate advocates closing our borders and mosques to millions of Muslims. Floods of refugees flee war and violence that has decimated their lives …
