History matters. Unite for Rights looks back in order to see our way forward. When we do, we can see that some of the vestiges of past atrocities, such as slavery, or the scalping of native Americans to remove them, remain.
There may be some disagreement, and discussion, about the extent of the vestiges of these things, and discrimination against women too, but there is no doubt that some vestiges remain.
If you look back to images, such as the slave ship to the left, you see domination by men over women, and of one race over another. It’s indisputable. Two examples in the United States prove this: Women were not allowed to vote, and there was slavery. Improvement has been made. Why? Because the rule of law has been used to stop those who would deny women the right to vote, or those who would sell slaves. People did not just become more humane, law contained them. Then, with time, values around that law have became the stories we tell so that these abuses have diminished, but are not yet over.
The lack of rule of law lies at the core of countless other abuses. It’s not just a U.S. problem – it’s a human one. Please watch this video of the slave trade, which involved many countries throughout human history. Click forward on the timeline and take it in – each of those thousands of dots crossing the seas is a slave ship. Start on the year approximately 1776, the birth of the United States, and watch for one minute. It’s a minute well spent: it will open your mind.
All those dots that you see streaming are each filled with the type of human domination and misery that you see portrayed in the still picture of a slave ship above. As you see that stream of dots, once in a while hit the pause button. When you do, take in the hundreds of ships, all of them full of people living in torture below deck, and then rethink whether it is likely that vestiges remain.
It is difficult to watch those thousands of dots cross the water in rapid succession. Especially when you realize that many of the people who provided funding for these heinous acts were stockholders, in London, Amsterdam and elsewhere investing to make a profit off of the misery of others while they had their tea. It’s not just the evil slave ship captains, it’s the good people who did nothing, or worse, funded slavery.
Then recall that these horrific acts where followed by slavery, segregation and prejudice for centuries. After looking carefully at the past, it is disingenuous to suggest “oh that’s the past, it’s over now.”
There are many reasons to support economic and social rights such as education and health care, for free, or at very low costs, with high standards for all people in all countries. One reason is to take steps to remove the vestiges of the atrocities you see here. This is an international issue. Unite for Rights is a plan, not just another platitude, for people of all backgrounds, including those who have been oppressed and enslaved, to live in well-being.
Well being for one is well being for all. Eleanor Roosevelt understood this. She said “The real reason that home is important is that it is so closely tied, by a million strings, to the rest of the world.” Let us tie these strings together through an enforceable International Bill of Rights which includes economic and social rights such as food, medical care, education and shelter.
Take 30 seconds to do something about these dots – be a light for an International Bill of Rights. No commitment, no money, just a moment, to join collectively with others to help right some horrible wrongs and also create well-being for yourself, and your children, along the way.
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