I’d like to see our politics begin to return to the purposes and practices that distinguish our history from the history of other nations. I would like to see us recover our sense that we are more alike than different. We are citizens of a republic made of shared ideals forged in a new world to replace the tribal enmities that tormented the old one. Even in times of political turmoil such as these, we share that awesome heritage and the responsibility to embrace it. Whether we think each other right or wrong in our views on the issues of the day, we owe each other our respect, as long as our character merits respect, and as long as we share, for all our differences, for all the rancorous debates that enliven and sometimes demean our politics, a mutual devotion to the ideals our nation was conceived to uphold, that all are created equal, and liberty and equal justice are the natural rights of all. Those rights inhabit the human heart, and from there, though they may be assailed, they can never be wrenched. I want to urge Americans, for as long as I can, to remember that this shared devotion to human rights is our truest heritage and our most important loyalty.
quote by John McCain
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To be connected to America’s causes — liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people — brings happiness more sublime than life’s fleeting pleasures. Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enlarged by serving good causes bigger than ourselves. "Fellow Americans" — that association has meant more to me than any other. I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world’s greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history. We have acquired great wealth and power in the process. We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.
quote by John McCain
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This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. … We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution. The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated.
quote by John F. Kennedy
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Equal Rights,2011
equal rights to live,
equal rights to love.
equal rights to believe,
to speak out, to stand up
and be counted.
equal rights to work,
equal rights to study.
equal rights to build.
equal rights to profess faith,
equal rights to pray.
equal rights to give...
equal rights to live,
equal rights to love!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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No nation which refuses to exercise forbearance and to respect the freedom and rights of others can long remain strong and retain the confidence and respect of other nations. No nation ever loses its dignity or good standing by conciliating its differences and by exercising great patience with, and consideration for, the rights of other nations.
quote by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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Should we understand the last 25 years of global integration as nothing more than a detour from the previous inevitable cycle of history — where might makes right, and politics is a hostile competition between tribes and races and religions, and nations compete in a zero-sum game, constantly teetering on the edge of conflict until full-blown war breaks out? Is that what we think? Let me tell you what I believe. I believe in Nelson Mandela’s vision. I believe in a vision shared by Gandhi and King and Abraham Lincoln. I believe in a vision of equality and justice and freedom and multi-racial democracy, built on the premise that all people are created equal, and they’re endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. And I believe that a world governed by such principles is possible and that it can achieve more peace and more cooperation in pursuit of a common good. That’s what I believe. And I believe we have no choice but to move forward; that those of us who believe in democracy and civil rights and a common humanity have a better story to tell.
quote by Barack Obama
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Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home- so close and so smallthat they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they arethe world of the individual person: the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them so close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.
quote by Eleanor Anna Roosevelt
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Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: The neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.
quote by Eleanor Roosevelt
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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History Will Teach Us Nothing
If we seek solace in the prisons of the distant past
Security in human systems were told will always always last
Emotions are the sail and blind faith is the mast
Without a breath of real freedom were getting nowhere fast
If God is dead and an actor plays his part
His words of fear will find their way to a place in your heart
Without the voice of reason every faith is its own curse
Without freedom from the past things can only get worse
Sooner or later just like the world first day
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
Sooner or later just like the world first day
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
History will teach us nothing
History will teach us nothing
Our written history is a catalogue of crime
The sordid and the powerful, the architects of time
The mother of invention, the oppression of the mild
The constant fear of scarcity, aggression as its child
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Convince an enemy, convince him that hes wrong
Is to win a bloodless battle where victory is long
A simple act of faith
In reason over might
To blow up his children will only prove him right
History will teach us nothing
Sooner or later the world first day
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
Sooner or later the world first day
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
History will teach us nothing
History will teach us nothing
Know you human rights
Be what you come here for
Know your human rights
Be what you come here for
Know your human rights
Be what you come here for
Know your human rights
Be what you come here for
song performed by by Sting
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Today, we stand as a united country and are much closer to the ideals set forth in our Constitution that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Injustice In Politics
white collar crime is
immoral an injustice
that many countries
have corrupted allowed
to breed multiply infest
their codes legal systems
bedrock middle working classes
should both teach their children
honour pride dignity of honest
workers is never for sale;
politicians are servants
of the people the nation
their goal in politics
cannot be to amass
wealth for themselves
at the cost of a nations
pride causing poverty
for our fellow citizens;
God said the master
to the slave is equal
politicians today need
to remember history
previous past generations
humane great leaders
who worked
not for themselves
who worked
for the good
of their nation
their people;
who believed in
peace at home
peace in the world
if we continue
to allow disease
white collar crime
to amass millions
billions illegally
for putrid debased
individuals never tried
for heinous greed crimes
upon society perpetrated;
then how can
our nations prosper
when the fat
of the land
is stolen
not shared
people need hope
belief in equal justice
in their nations laws;
people are not
animals they need
a little appreciation
the odd luxury
for themselves
their children
left with nothing
but bare bones
lean nasty blamed
for their own
unemployment
misery poverty;
risks not just
broken lives
but a cold hard
mean day
of accounting
rage vented
a little compassion
goes a long way
justice equality for all
solves many problems
before they crisis arise
time world governments
address the real issues
poem by Terence George Craddock
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If You Pay Respect
If you pay respect to where respect is due
And to your own higher self try to remain true
And treat everyone as an equal and all as the same
Your's ought to live on as a remembered name.
If for everyone you believe on a 'fair go'
And despite their Race or Creed due respect to them show
And never ruin anyone's character with malicious lies
Above the ordinary you are one who does seem to rise.
If you unlike many not addicted to greed
And try to help those of help who are in need
And of your own Human flaws you do feel aware
To say the least people like you are quite rare.
If you do believe in the live and let live
And you are not too proud to receive and generous enough for to give
And respect to the rights of all others you pay
Then as a person you are doing quite okay.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Gravely Oppose Bush Obama Imposed Poverty
honest Abe Lincoln born in a one-room log cabin;
on the Sinking Spring Farm in Hardin County
Kentucky inspired by a Separate Baptists church;
was a self-educated man of high moral standards;
opposed to the monstrous injustice of slavery
Abraham lead his people nation to a moral victory;
Abe upheld the ideals values of the Founding Fathers;
Abe insisted that God said all men are created equal
Abe successfully led his country through its greatest;
constitutional, military and moral crisis Civil War;
at the Gettysburg Address Abe declared the nation
was conceived in Liberty and men are created equal;
James Madison hailed as 'Father of the Constitution'
instrumental in drafting the United States Constitution
champion author of the United States Bill of Rights;
fought for constitutional guarantees for religious liberty;
infused religious freedom into Constitution and Bill of Rights
hyenas centuries later striped religion from US schools;
born in an age when rich whites owned hundreds of slaves;
Madison's slave Paul Jennings later wrote Madison
never personally struck a slave nor permitted his overseers;
to strike slaves, Jennings wrote if a slave misbehaved;
'Madison would meet with the person privately
to try to talk about the behavior' to resolve spur issues;
the moral lesson here is might proves not who is right;
might proves merely who is strongest with biggest stick
if pen be mightier than the sword what lesson is learned?
Madison's writings are still import perspective studied;
weighted measured for their debate over human rights
among different classes of citizens in the 21st century;
the anticipated danger of a strong majority;
imposing its will on a weaker minority
by popular vote can be an attack on liberty;
study Madison in 'The Federalist Papers' No.51
'It is of great importance in a republic not
only to guard the society against the oppression
of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society
against the injustice of the other part... In a society
under the forms of which the stronger faction can
readily unite and oppress the weaker, anarchy
may as truly be said to reign as in a state
of nature, where the weaker individual is not
secured against the violence of the stronger.'
When America embraces the truth greatness
of her own heritage emancipation of poverty;
infesting contemporary America may be eradicated?
When will Modern America stop voting rich spoilt
brats into office liars faking policy into presidency?
Did not James Madison leave fame US presidency;
a legacy poorer man than when he honest entered
due to serving needs of a nation instead of own needs?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Moral Fiber!
true moral fiber...
is grounded in respect!
respect yourself!
respect the earth!
respect your neighbor!
(everyone is your neighbor)
respect the search for truth.
respect justice!
respect the rights of human beings
to be human beings!
respect the need of each and all!
living thus...
will not allow you to respect,
acts of injustice,
acts of ignorance,
acts of prejudice,
acts of greed!
be respect!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Note To The United States Of America!
we cannot be a nation proclaiming human rights,
without closing Guantanamo!
we cannot proclaim justice,
as long as money controls out courts.
we cannot proclaim freedom,
while invading other countries.
we cannot proclaim democracy,
as long as corporations have more
rights than individuals.
we cannot proclaim dignity,
while letting our children starve.
we cannot proclaim progress,
till all stand side by side with opportunity.
we cannot proclaim respect,
till all are equally respected.
we cannot proclaim spirituality,
until we live the words we speak.
we cannot proclaim peace,
until we come to peace with ourselves!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A Sparrow's Thoughts... (Number Seven)
when we sit numbly staring
at the six o'clock news...
at the cops in riot gear
dispersing the student protesters...
protesting against Wall Street excess,
against the greed of big business,
against the destructive thrusts of big oil,
against the wars over seas...
against human rights being taken,
against the lie we're being fed...
when these young people are beaten,
gassed, and arrested for standing up
for their ideals of freedom...
do we remember that these are our children?
do we know?
even more, do we remember,
when we were young and believed?
the anti-war protests,
the civil rights marches,
women's rights, farmworker's rights...
when we dared to believe we could
change the world...
we live again in our children!
do we understand this?
are we just going to sit still and watch?
are we dead?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Against Their Human Rights
How many times have I heard them say
it’s against his human rights
when a killer goes to court?
Hey, but what about the victim
and his or her family.
Don’t they have human rights too?
Is it only the killers who have human rights?
It really makes you wonder.
They commit a crime against
someone innocent in our society.
Then you get some idiot
starts shouting their punishment
is against their human rights.
Now what would happen if that idiot
lost a family member to some killer?
Would they still be shouting
and waving banners about his human rights?
I sincerely doubt it;
they’d probably say like a lot of us
that the killer has no human rights.
They forfeited them the day
they took someone’s life.
We may forgive them
for what they do,
but they must still take the punishment
the Courts of the land hand down.
13 February 2008
poem by David Harris
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Nations are equal in respect to each other, and entitled to claim equal consideration for their rights, whatever may be their relative dimensions or strength or however greatly they may differ in government, religion or manners.
quote by James Kent
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Up until, really, Roosevelt, African-Americans largely voted ninety per cent Republican. That was the political origins, that's what their political voice was in the Republican party. During that history, that last sixty or seventy years of history, the Republican party effectively walked away from the community. They were afraid to really embrace civil rights even though they embraced civil rights legislation. And so it's not enough to just to put it on paper, you gotta actually show up and be in the community, and understand what that struggle was really about.
quote by Michael Steele
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Actions Of Respect
plant and animal rights,
human rights...
no difference here!
all built on
the actions of respect.
and sadly,
what we've lost,
and cant seem to find,
is respect!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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What Respect Is
have we forgotten
what respect is?
did we ever really know?
every human being deserves
the respect of every other human being,
and should respect every other
human being as well!
it has nothing to do with
color, religion, political views,
or financial status!
respect is a God given right,
and responsibility!
respect is about being human.
treat people the way you wish to
be treated... treat people like people!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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