The Concept Of Universal Human Rights - 2464 Words

â€Å"No democracy and no open society can continue to exist in the long run without recognizing that rights and duties form a dual principle† (Schmidt n.d.). The concept of human rights, and human rights discourse though seeming to be a relatively new concept in terms of the history of humanity, is not. The concept of universal human rights predates the colonial project by hundreds of years. It is not merely a means for so called ‘western powers’ to expand but is the outlining and promotion of all rights that are naturally owed to each and every human being, justified by the basic fact that we are all human and therefore, equal. The concept of universal rights has been developed by both ‘western’ countries and those that have been left alone by this colonial project. As human beings have evolved the ability to reason, we have now, a responsibility to ensure that a baseline across humanity, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sex, gender, age or disability, is maintained. While the modern notion of human rights has been adapted from western philosophers and western works, there is use of human rights all throughout history within different societies that by far predate the height of colonialism, the rights of man or human rights is not a modern idea in fact human rights can be linked back as far as two millennia to the Cyrus cylinder (United for Human Rights n.d.), which arguably is one of the first known examples of human rights, produced in what is tody the middle-east, theShow MoreRelatedEvaluating Ethical Decisions and Defining a Universal Standard of Good1476 Words   |  6 PagesDefining a Universal Standard of Good It is difficult to provide a concrete definition for the word â€Å"right.† Right can mean many different things in different situations. For example, the right answer to one plus one is two. Yet, â€Å"doing the right thing† isn’t a simple answer like the previous example. In determining the difference between right and wrong, the pursuit of making an ethical decision is born. There are many concepts of right and wrong. Despite the number of concepts of right and wrongRead MoreA Critical Evaluation Of The Universal Nature Of Human Rights1329 Words   |  6 PagesA CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE UNIVERSAL NATURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS INTRODUCTION Human Rights are the rights, that are considered to be inalienable, inseparable and vested upon individual by virtue of being human. For example, the Oxford English Dictionary defined the universal nature of Human Rights as ‘a right which is believed to belong to every person’. The aim of this essay is to critically evaluate the universal and relative nature of human rights postulated by the eminent scholars, who haveRead MoreThe Fundamental International Charter For Human Rights1444 Words   |  6 PagesThe topic of universal human rights is a complex and largely contested area of international relations. Though often highly regarded in â€Å"Western† states, the notion of individual rights is highly debatable in other parts of the world. In a struggle to reconcile regional traditions and world cultures, efforts to create implement a universally accepted charter of human rights have met many obstacles. Key issues including minority groups, gender, and the concept of individuality versus collectivismRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1396 Words   |  6 Pages The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (UNDR) was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 with the intention off providing a moral standard for judging an individual state’s treatment of it’s citizens. Yet to this day a debate rages between scholars such as Jack Donnely and Michael Goodhart as to whether the principles expressed within the UNDR are not only universal but actully culturally relative. When drafting the UNDR, the term â€Å"universal† was meant to show that the declaration â€Å"wasRead MoreAre Human Rights Universal? - Essay1277 Words   |  6 PagesThe concept of Universal Human Rights is a fairly new conception in human history. Rights are not the same thing as social or cultural norms, which can be used to oppress minority interest and be fundamentally unfair to individuals. The beginnings of this concept can be traced back to the Enlightenment Era of the mid 17th through the 18th century. The formal international consensus of this idea did not take effect until after World War II, when the United Nations (U.N.) adapted the Universal DeclarationRead MoreThe Last Utopia By Samuel Moyn Essay951 Words   |  4 Pageswas not a human rights struggle, writing, â€Å"If anticolonialism generally spurned human rights, one might say, it was because it was a rights of man movement, with all the prior fidelity to the state that concept implied in modern hi story.† Moyn’s emphasis on the state here is telling. Because the rights that a nation could provide were particular to its citizens, not international, they could not be human rights. The â€Å"rights of man† were not the rights of all. Further, Moyn views the concept of self-determinationRead MoreThe Battle for Human Rights in Ethical and Global Politics1135 Words   |  4 Pages Human rights are a strong point of contention in the context of ethics and global politics. This is due to the vast diversity of perspectives that exist within the international world system – which makes it increasingly to difficult to define a truly global conception of human rights today. At the core of human rights perspectives is the suggestion that there should be a ‘basic’ notion of universal human rights. However, this is widely contested. In this essay I will critically interpret the notionRead MoreWhat are your perceptions on the universal declaration of human rights would you like to amend any of the articles or add a new article to the declaration?1732 Words   |  7 PagesWhat are your perceptions on the universal declaration of human rights would you like to amend any of the articles or add a new article to the declaration? In:  International Laws [Edit categories] Answer: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is half a century old, but critics are still asking whether anything in our multicultural, diverse world can be truly universal. Some ask, isnt human rights an essentially Western concept, ignoring the very different cultural, economic and political realitiesRead MoreUniversal Access For Affordable Health Care1426 Words   |  6 PagesWhether universal access to affordable health care is something every individual has a right to or something they must earn is definitely a controversial topic. While most agree that the current health care system in the United States is one that needs work, many continue to argue about the notion of universal access to health care and if it’s truly what’s best for a nation. In reality, access to affordable health care is a human right to all persons in the world, and is something that all shouldRead MoreThe Universal Human Rights Of The United Nations873 Words   |  4 PagesThe Universal Human Rights: From Paper to Reality According to the Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations, â€Å"human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible† (United Nations Human Rights). In other words

What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl by Patricia Smith...

What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl by Patricia Smith Compared to Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer. Carolynn Hanson ENG125: Introduction to Literature (ABG1239A) Instructor: Corey King October 15, 2012 When comparing and contrasting the poem What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl by Patricia Smith with the short story Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer. The poem and the short story are both great examples of the difficulty of life between different ethnic backgrounds. The Poem What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl by Patricia Smith is more recent than the short story Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer they are written during different time frames and their stories are unique within their time frame. Both the poem and the short†¦show more content†¦The feeling of not belonging, the feeling of being different, and unique is best stated by Patricia Smith What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl, â€Å"first of all, it’s being 9 years old and feeling like you’re not finished, like your edges are wild, like there’s something, everything, wrong† (pg 267 Clugston). When comparing and contrasting the poem Patricia Smith What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl to the short story Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer you see that the these two young black women want to be accepted in the world around them. The girl in the poem is trying to change her image by once again quoting â€Å"like theres something, everything, wrong, its dropping food coloring in your eyes to make them blue and suffering their burn in silence. Its popping a bleached white mophead over the kinks of your hair† (pg 267 Clugston). Where as the short story states that nobelprize.org states that Nadine Gordimer â€Å"Born in Springs, South Africa, 20/11/1923. Daughter of Isidore and Nan Gordimer. Has lived all her life, and continues to live, in South Africa. Principal works: 10 novels, including A Guest of Honour, The Conservationist, Burgers Daughter, Julys People, A Sport of Nature, My Sons Story and her most recent, None to Accompany Me. 10 short story collections, the most recent Jump, published 1991, and Why Havent You Written: Selected Stories 1950-1972, published 1992.Show MoreRelatedComparison of What Its Like to Be a Black Girl and Country Lovers1895 Words   |  8 Pagesof â€Å"What it’s like to be a black girl† and Country Lovers African American Literature dates back to the 18th century. These writings tend to focus on issues of racism, inner struggles, slavery, prejudice, and the pursuit of freedom as well as equality. Two renowned contributors to this field of literature are Nadine Gordimer and Patricia Smith. Throughout this paper, details of the short story Country Lovers, by Nadine Gordimer and the poem, â€Å"What it’s Like to Be a Black Girl,† by Patricia SmithRead MoreCultural Comparison2188 Words   |  9 Pagesethnicity,the customs of their countries and how they attempted to handle their life situations. Child f the Americas by Aurora Morales, gives us a view of a woman who is happy with herself and adjusts well to her life. The second is What It’s Like to be a Black Girl by Patricia Smith, a story of transition from childhood to adulthood for a young black girl having problems with both growing up and her place as a black woman in society. The third Country Lovers by Na dine Gordimer is the story of growingRead MoreSummary of Patricia Smiths What Its Like to Be a Black Girl2370 Words   |  9 PagesWhat it is like to be a black girl and country lovers What its like to be a black girl and country lovers Patricia Smiths What its like to be a black girl is a breathtaking poem to read as it gives the real picture of what a black American girl who is faced by racial prejudice, inner struggles and slavery. This poem will be compared and contrasted with Nadine Gordimers country lover which is also a heart-rending story about a young black skinned girl-Thebedi finding herself in love with a

Analysis Of A Christmas Carol Essay Example For Students

Analysis Of A Christmas Carol Essay Charles Dickenss A Christmas Carol tells us that we are all on the earth to improve and better ourselves. This is shown through Scrooges behaviour and his life. At the beginning of the novel Scrooge is bitter, horrible and cold. If I could work my will said Scrooge indignantly, every idiot who goes about with a Merry Christmas on his lips should be boiled in his own pudding, and buried with a steak of holly through his heart. He should! Here Scrooge shows his extreme dislike for the Christmas season by saying that everyone who celebrates Christmas should be butchered in their own Christmas dinner. But after seeing his life and how it affects the people around him, he starts to change for the better. The spirit of Christmas present quoted Scrooges own words right back in his face. Have they no refuge or resource? Cried Scrooge. Are there no prisons? said the spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. Are there no work houses? Seeing the wisdom and power of the three spirits Scrooge changes and by the end of the novel treasures Christmas in his heart. I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the past, the present, and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me Scrooges nephew, Fred is very important to the novel because he portrays the moral message of families being together at Christmas, and also the fact that Christmas is a time for forgiveness. This links with how Dickens wrote the novel, in the setting of Christmas. We meet Scrooges nephew, who personifies the theme of families through the Christmas season. This is seen, as hes tolerant towards his uncle Scrooges thoughts towards Christmas. Every year Scrooge refuses his nephews invitation and every year his nephew forgives him and invites them to Christmas dinner. Through Jacob Marley Dickens teaches us that mans obligation is to look out for his fellow man and to aid those less providential than themselves: to be philanthropic rather than misanthropic. I wear the chain I forged in life, I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on my own free will and of my own free will I wore it or would you know the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this seven Christmas eves ago. You have laboured on it since. It is a ponderous chain! Here in stave one Marleys ghost emerges and informs Scrooge that it is necessary for him to change otherwise he will have to bear a chain much the same as Marley. Through his old colleagues spirit Scrooge learns that he needs to alter whilst there is still time. Marley expresses his own sorrows to Scrooge and Scrooge believes that his own personal senses are deceiving him and he says, A little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. Here Scrooge evidently states that he doubts that anything beyond reality exists, nevertheless, Marleys visit will be certain to reside within his mind throughout the visits of the other spirits. Scrooge represents Victorian society through many factors; there are four key ones, which represent the majority of Victorians. The first is hatred. Scrooge hates Christmas and everything to do with it. Merry Christmas! What right do you have to be merry?! .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 , .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .postImageUrl , .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 , .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5:hover , .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5:visited , .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5:active { border:0!important; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5:active , .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5 .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u80eb9736c1a9965b64f90fd0cd95b0c5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Conduct of internal audit Essay He doesnt want to spend time with his family at any time of the year and doesnt see why Christmas should be an exception. He doesnt want to spend time with his family because as a child his immediate family were not loving and kind towards him. Because of all this Christmas is a very unhappy time of year for Scrooge and because of that fact he doesnt want anybody else to enjoy it. This also represents selfishness. Most Victorians were both selfish and jealous, faults that generate hate towards those who have what they want. The second factor is disrespect. Scrooge shows great disrespect to a lot of people, including the gentlemen collecting for charity. I wish to be left alone since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I dont make myself merry at Christmas, and I cant afford to make idle people merry. I think he says this because he thinks the gentlemen are below him. This represents Victorian society because back then the class system was more enforced than it is now.

King Lear And Edmund Essays - King Lear, Edmund, Royal Bastard

King Lear And Edmund In King Lear, the villainous but intelligent Edmund, with more than a brief examination into his character, has understandable motivations outside of the base purposes with which he might at first be credited. Edmund is a character worthy of study, as he seems to be the most socially complex character of the play. In a sense, he is both victim and villain. Edmund is introduced into the play in the opening scene with his father, Gloucester, stating that he acknowledges him as his son, but publicly mocking him for his bastardy. He is referred to by Gloucester as a reason for Gloucester to blush and as a"knave" in front of Kent (1.1.9-25). According to Claude J. Summers, "Illegitimacy is the characteristic which most pervasively defines Edmund's life" (225). In essence, this means that personal embarrassment and public humiliation are a continual torment for him his entire life. Concerning the illegitimate sons of royalty in England at that time, according to Chris Given-Wilson in The Royal Bastards of Medieval England, "The bend . . . or baton sinister . . . were used as the standard mark of illegitimacy" in their heraldry (52). Edmund and those like him, expected to serve in battle, were immediately known to other knights as being bastards because it was clearly emblazoned on their shields. Given his father's mocking of him, it can be expected that this was common treatment for illegitimate sons of nobility and the carrying of a sign to broadcast his perceived lower class would be cause for further humiliation. Edmund is a highly intelligent person. He is able to beguile his father, so it may be argued that he is more intelligent than Gloucester. With the concept of forging a letter supposedly penned by Edgar in order to cause his loyalty to be in question, he shows that he is deeply aware of the necessary "buttons" to push to cause a rift in the fabric of his family and A Look at Shakespeare's Edmund his society. It shows that he is capable of original and creative thought processes (1.2.28-36). When Edmund makes a show of hiding the letter from his father, then hesitating to show it to him further, he shows a deep understanding of human nature (1.2.38-47). Who would not be intrigued and desire to see it? Who would be capable of crediting him with the writing of the letter? Edmund has a keen understanding of human nature and an intelligence that excels that of his father. Edmund could certainly not be described as naive. Early in the play, we realize that his brother Edgar is just the opposite, though later he grows wiser due to necessity. In believing Edmund's lies that their father is angry with him to the point of accepting the advice to carry a sword around with him, he displays his poor judgment, eventually causing grave difficulties for himself and his father (1.2.164-83). In contrasting Edgar and Edmund, we can see that Edmund is clearly more world-wise and able to create situations to his own advantage. This lack of naivet? and clear thinking can be seen as a form of intelligence. He is able to easily trick his brother and is intelligent than Edgar. In comparing Goneril and Regan to Edmund, we find that Edmund is once again the more crafty and intelligent. By the end of the play we see that their plots are going to hinge on his course of action and that they are both doting on him. He has one willing to kill her husband and the other willing to give him all of her land and a title. Given their natures, it is almost a surprise that the author has not portrayed them as creatures similar to the witches in Mac Beth. Edmund knows who they are and it is doubtful they could be physically attractive to him, yet they choose to believe the sincerity of his overtures. His ability to dupe them shows him to be their superior. When Edmund covets Edgar's inheritance, it is not simply the coveting of land and title; it is a coveting of respect in the social order of his world. Edgar reveals not only his intentions, but also some of the reasoning behind them when he says Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father's love is to the bastard Edmond As to th'legitimate. Fine word, ?legitimate' Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed And my invention thrive, Edmond the base Shall to the'legitimate: I grow,