This is a letter to the editor submitted by Richard Paul Moore, of Ithaca. It was not written by The Ithaca Voice. To submit letters, email Managing Editor Kelsey O’Connor at firstname.lastname@example.org.
On December 10, 1948, The United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Of the 58 members of the United Nations in 1948: 48 voted yes, 8 abstained and 2 voted no. In other words, 5 out of 6 countries voted for this Universal Declaration.
This came from World War I and the Four Freedoms that FDR talked about: freedom of speech, freedom of religion,. Freedom from fear and freedom from want.
Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR’s wife, was the Chair of the UN drafting committee. She displays woman’s power. She knew what this phrase meant: “People with great power have great responsibility.” So do each of us.
I ask you three things between now and November 6th. Because over 95% of us are very good people.
- Read the Titles of these 30 articles, and ask yourself: What do these Articles represent:
- Our collective dream for a better world?
- Our vision of the world we want for our children?
- Our commitment to stand up and help those presently driven by anger , sadness, fear and
assist them to have equal access to these rights?
- Our need to challenge those in power to serve the greater good of us all?
- Think about the tone of our political climate. Where do we end up if we continue? Where are we?
- To all voters: vote Democratic for this election on November 6th. Every one of us, everywhere!
Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 1 Right to Equality
Article 2 Freedom from Discrimination
Article 3 Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security
Article 4 Freedom from Slavery
Article 5 Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
Article 6 Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law
Article 7 Right to Equality before the Law
Article 8 Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal
Article 9 Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile
Article 10 Right to Fair Public Hearing
Article 11 Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty
Article 12 Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence
Article 13 Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
Article 14 Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution
Article 15 Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change Nationality
Article 16 Right to Marriage and Family
Article 17 Right to Own Property
Article 18 Freedom of Belief and Religion
Article 19 Freedom of Opinion and Information
Article 20 Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Article 21 Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections
Article 22 Right to Social Security
Article 23 Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions
Article 24 Right to Rest and Leisure
Article 25 Right to Adequate Living Standard
Article 26 Right to Education
Article 27 Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community
Article 28 Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document
Article 29 Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development
Article 30 Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights
We must dare to change the trend: Vote Democrat, even if it’s just this one time. A jolt is needed.
There are too many unintended consequences we can not afford to let come to life.
Richard Paul Moore
Ithaca, New York