President Obama, Human Rights, Egypt and Just Peace
by: Valerie Elverton-Dixon on January 29th, 2011 | 13 Comments »
Most of us have a moral compass, a rule, a set of beliefs that serves as a North Star to help us find our bearings when we have to decide what is right to do. For some of us it is the Golden Rule: “IN ALL THINGS, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Many people think of the respect we owe to everyone and everything that carries the image of God. It is the image of God that is the warrant for human dignity. People who do not believe in God may still respect the self evident truth that every human being possesses an inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Some may consider the logic of Ubuntu, an African moral principle teaching that our personal humanity is a function of our own moral evolution as we interact righteously, justly, and generously with Others in the human community.
President Obama has spoken of an expanded moral imagination that allows us to live the Golden Rule, he understands and upholds the American tradition of inalienable rights, and he is no doubt familiar with the concept of Ubuntu. However, when speaking of the commitment of the United States regarding human rights in relation to the internal affairs of other nations, he stands upon the foundation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Speaking of human rights during a press conference with President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China he said:
“I reaffirm America’s fundamental commitment to the universal rights of all people. That includes basic human rights like freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association and demonstration, and of religion – rights that are recognized in the Chinese Constitution. As I’ve said before, the United States speaks up for these freedoms and the dignity of every human being, not only because it’s part of who we are as Americans, but we do so because we believe that by upholding these universal rights, all nations, including China, will ultimately be more prosperous and successful.”
In the State of the Union Address 2011, speaking of the recent events in South Sudan and in Tunisia, he supported the people’s will for democracy saying: “And tonight, let us be clear: the United State of America stands with the people of Tunisia, and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.”
In his remarks on the situation in Egypt, January 28, 2011, he said: “The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere.”
He asked for the restoration of Internet access, including access to social networking sites, a right to communication. He asked the people protesting in the street to remain nonviolent, and he called for political, social and economic reforms. He said the United States expected concrete steps toward reform and a meaningful dialogue between Egyptian government officials and the various aspects of Egyptian society. He came down in support of the Egyptian people: “Put simply, the Egyptian people want a future that befits the heirs of a great and ancient civilization.”
He ended by saying: “Surely there will be difficult days to come. But the United States will continue to stand up for the rights of the Egyptian people and work with their government in pursuit of a future that is more just, more free and more hopeful.”
That was enough for now. President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has been a reliable ally of the United State for 30 years. He has helped to maintain stability in a volatile region. At the same time, his government has been repressive and he has not allowed free and fair elections. The income gap in his country is enormous, thus ordinary people have a difficult time making ends meet. So, aside from a lack of democracy, there is also a lack of economic justice.
Just Peace Theory holds that where there is no democracy and no legal, economic and social justice there can be no true peace. There may be a fragile stability held in place by police and military force, but there can be no peace. Peace is a predicated upon justice. It comes through truth, respect and security that derives from the assurance that one may exercise one’s human rights without retaliation by the state.
Too often in the history of the United States, we supported dictators at the expense of the human rights of the ordinary people in their countries. We have done this with Mubarak. At this moment, President Obama is right to look to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the North Star that will guide the foreign policy of the United States. In so doing he is making a bet on the people of Egypt.
The democratic process could lead to the people selecting a government that will not be as reliable an ally of the United States as President Mubarak has been. The democratic process may lead to a government that will not honor the peace agreement with Israel. We do not know. This demand for the end of Mubarak’s rule may spread to other countries in the region and mean the end of other friendly regimes.
Democracy is a risk. Upholding the UDHR is a risk. But these are just peace risks worth taking.
(see: http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2010/09/29/president-obama-and-just-peace-pragmatism/
Get educated. The USA is only interested in maintaining its Empire of power and control around the
world – not “democracy” or human rights. Obama is all talk, no walk. He is the public relations dummy
of the military/big business/media ventriloquists. Goggle and read John Pilger to get some insight.
Hi Susan, there is some truth in what you say IMHO but I think it’s an oversimplified demonization of President Obama. I think of him as both a political realist and an idealist. But that was true of FDR as well. Often, we project our own “shadows” onto others. I would like to see Barack Obama do more for justice, like you, but he may be doing his best, given the messiness of democracy.
where there is an unrest, there is the voice of america.
This is Bullshit…
What does “this” refer to?
We cannot impose Democracy on the Arab worlda we have seen in Iraq. We cannot step into the internal affairs in the Arab world as there would be unintended outcomes.
I don’t believe Elverton-Dixon said we should impose anything on the Arab world. Instead, she is calling for us to stand by our supposed idealist principles and human rights and not pursue a foreign policy that contradicts those principles.
That could be applied to the whole Arab world and Iran. Thankfully we have Israel as the only stable Democracy in the Middle East
God looked down on the world and saw how it was today – So he called forth two of his
greatest angels – and told them to go and present themselfs unto the Kings – Queens
and Presdents and all leaders of the World – and to the bankers and corporation owners.
So they came unto this world and presented themselfs to all they were told too – then
went back to report to God – They said none would accept them …
God said stand witness – - – WE gave them there chance to salavation ,,,
Thank you – Common and Sense
S.G. you must be a very judgmental person, to project an image of an angry figure in the sky who wishes to destroy his evolving children. You apparently may not be able to get to that place within you where there is only love. I haven’t either, but I realize that the judgments which take me to anger are my problem and have nothing to do with my true identity as a child of God.
S.G., I like your story, and I do not see an angry god at the center of it. Rather it is about the importance of learning to listen to what Lincoln called, “the angels of our better nature.” They remain always to respond when called upon.
It must be admitted that the Mubarak regime was a very oppressive regime that kept the balance in the area with the support of the USA. That oppression extended to the situation in Palestine. Hopefully the balance will change now, so the oppression will end in Egypt and Palestine. There can be a peaceful solution to the area, but it will mean serious changes for everyone.
Oh change is needed, but be careful what you wish for.. Iran traded one form of oppression for another