Dignity and Justice for All of Us

As a kind of segway from my post a week ago, this week I am joining with millions around the globe (or at least, those who know about it) in promoting Human Rights Day on December 10th. The United Nations uses Dec. 10 of each year to remind people of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This seemed like a good day to pay tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate of Burma. She has been on and off house arrest for the last eighteen years. Her 1997 book, Voice of Hope is being re-released and updated in paperback, and it coincides with the restart of dialogue and negotiations between her, Burman government officials, and the UN. It was her wish that we would use our liberty to promote theirs.

So, on this Human Rights Day, I am using my liberty of free speech and dissemination to remind us of how lucky we are to be able to debate and (if the Right has their way) possibly repeal an extension of a child's civil rights in education bill (see my previous post). It really puts things into perspective when you think of how much we take for granted that we don't even realize that we take for granted: Voting, a system that works (usually), free speech, personal liberties, the list goes on and on.

So, the next time you engage your neighbor in a political debate, or participate in politics, remember Aung San: The woman who gave up her freedom to fight for a seeming lost cause, so that her people might enjoy the same liberties that we enjoy.