What happened to , "America stands for human rights" ?

Since the Carter Administration, human rights has been a cornerstone of our foreign policy. We believed as a nation that all people deserved to be treated with dignity and we did not beleive in torture or abuse of any people in any country. We stood for something that all of America could be proud of.

Unfortunately, it appears that we have lost that claim for respect fo human rights. With the latest disgusting photos from the occupied country of Iraq, the only difference between America's treatment of prisoners and Saddam's treatment of prisoners is one of degree. No doubt, unchecked power and abuse only becomes worse if it is not exposed. Hopefully, we have saved ourselves from worse atrocities.

This should be an issue for all Americans. Human rights is part of America's consciousness and we do not wish to surrender the last decent idea that America stands for and has given hope to people around the world. Will we continue on the path we are going or will we make the changes needed to be respected around the world and amongst our own people. Human rights is an important issue.

When human rights are brought up, America stands.... and walks out of the room.

the US just determines who is human.

The US has always always always been one of the worst offenders on human rights and the propaganda that it is really Superman Jesus is the cover for:
Native American genocide
Slavery
Apartheid
Terrorism
Torture
Eugenics
Imperialism

-all as official gov't policies for several hundred years.

n/t

Carter notwithstanding, the U.S. has used "human rights" as little more than a foreign policy smoke screen for nearly a century. Foreign poor people have the right to work like mules in service of U.S. interests-- in return, we support their democratic right to elect the folks who'll flog them when they falter or dissent. Human rights, Amerikan style.

.....which is, when it buys votes, or sells products.

Otherwise........

Kanary

Reagan tossed all that H.R. stuff along with the solar panels .

US military and private merc. firms have been brutalizing South Americans

throughout the 90s and continuing into the 00s

This is not something new

except for a couple of huge instances, Iraq being one, Clinton did promote the democratic idea of human rights in a general sense, although not to the degree of Jimmy Carter. Perhaps we, the Democratic Party, need to reinstate the Human Rights Doctrine.

We have at least a fifty year record of propping up dictators, tyrants, etc. when it suited our purposes.

In the speech (played on c-span this morning) he has mentioned that this administration is hostile to Cuba and then he references the following items relating to human rights:

Gitmo and the treatment of those detained there as well as no right to consult an attorney, let relatives know where they are...

Millions living below the poverty level and children who are going hungry while resources are spent on aggressive wars...

Homeless people who are hungry and living under bridges...

...foreign policy, despite their frequent invocation when they're a convenient condemnation of someone who doesn't serve the U.S.'s broader interests. We have essentially been at war with poor people outside the U.S. since before WWI, especially in this hemisphere. Human rights is a U.S. foreign policy platitude and little more.

:) You are probably correct but I beleive America needs to believe in something that they can respect. Certainly the policies of George W Bush are not it. Sometimes we need to have some idealism...

People suffer and die every day-- they have for decades-- so that we can live comfortably and congratulate ourselves about our concerns for "human rights."

How do we ever expect to make any difference to improve the lives of people around the world? Yes, it is more than a political "issue" but it is still an issue.

I don't know of anyone in our government who has advocated what was done in the Iraq prison. I have heard nationwide revultion and condemnation for these acts. There is also a sizable contingent in and out of government who are striving to change the regime who has allowed the lapse in morality by invading a sovereign nation and imposing their false authority on the citizens of Iraq. There is a revolution of change coming that will roil the counterfeit ruling oligarchy that has infected the Executive Branch. I am optimistic that we will change regimes here in America in November. I'm less certain that our vigilance can stop the flood of abuses without direct action. This should be an active summer.

...and what "our" government does? This did not begin at Abu Ghraib-- it began in Panama and in the Philippines, in El Salvador and in Southeast Asia.

Our process allows for the removal of the government if we disagree with their actions. I expect that our system will work in our favor if we take the time to exercise our rights and responsibilities. Until we all involve ourselves in every instigation of democracy then the few who bother will always control the destiny of our nation.

Since it is an ideal and the arguments about whether we stand or have stood for human rights are legitimate ones. But, with recent events, is it something that should once again be laid on the table, as a purely political issue - since many folks believe it is nothing more than propaganda anyway?