While the phrase “human rights” sounds great, what stands behind it is not always quite so great.
For some of us, “getting stoned” brings up an image of someone smoking a joint. But after I saw this photo in the morning, it’ll be hard not to be reminded of a totally different image the next time I hear the phrase.
This kind of stuff is a terrifying reality for many people in this world, and the awful thing is that it’s not even considered a crime. It’s completely legal in some countries. What’s more amazing is the cynical way that some of these countries manipulate public opinion. For instance, U.N. Watch said today that Iran and Saudi Arabia, countries that hang, lash and stone women to death, are on track to join the board of a new U.N. agency devoted to women’s rights. The elections are supposed to take place on November 10th.
While the phrase “human rights” sounds great, what stands behind it is not always quite so great. Some of the members of the human rights council at the U.N., for instance, are countries that are not free and that violate human rights in the worst ways. And while we may excuse this by saying well, don’t be naive, that’s how the world of politics turns that still doesn’t excuse the media’s behavior around the subject. When did the media become so “politically corrupt”? Why does it seem like it hardly questions anything anymore, and only repeats mantras?
To read Lilac Sigan's article in full, please go to her blog The Other Side of the Equation.