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The Forum > Article Comments > Human rights: a further blow > Comments

Human rights: a further blow : Comments

By Meg Wallace, published 2/11/2011

What is it with human rights? Does anyone really want them?

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I agree with others above, that Human Rights conventions are nothing more than inspirational rhetoric observed in the breach. The notion of "Universal" human rights is even more risible than domestic versions that preside over drastic inequalities especially in wealthy countries. Universal human rights suggest an ethical imprimatur (based in what?), or at least an international duty of care that transcends all borders; meanwhile the world is polarised between glut and starvation. I think we ought to stop flattering ourselves in this deadpan Monty Python manner and acknowledge that humanity is presided over in reality by the anti-ethics of obsessive self-interest and self-agrandissement, vested in a limitless ambition for the accumulation of wealth and influence. Ethics is a pretence in this context, an international form of "sublimation" whose much more prevalent honest expression should be owned-up schadenfreude.

In any case what are "Human" rights? What gives us pre-eminence over all the planet's other species? What about their rights?
We have no right to talk about Rights in general. Cant and moonshine!
Posted by Squeers, Wednesday, 2 November 2011 9:25:28 AM
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Squeers
Then who has the right to speak for you? You? Or someone else?
Posted by Peter Hume, Wednesday, 2 November 2011 10:14:43 AM
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Go Meg.
There's work here for Australians United for Separation of Church and State.
Posted by Ralph Toronto, Wednesday, 2 November 2011 12:45:57 PM
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Ralph,
What does that vague sentence meam?
Posted by Philo, Wednesday, 2 November 2011 1:08:37 PM
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"But these are nonsense arguments"
A pity Peter, I was hoping you would explain why- but you never mentioned them again, but rather insinuated they are comparable to slavery.

It's a fact of life that unless you join a libertarian sea-stead nation, or live in an isolated island that you keep to yourself, you would likely be living within a society and benefitting from the services that everybody else is paying for in some form; for them to expect every member to help subsidize it is perfectly fair.
Posted by King Hazza, Wednesday, 2 November 2011 2:18:13 PM
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PRIORITAS:

I am not negative to Arabian beheading

Nor live ammo against a peaceful crowd

Nor sex slave bound in brothel dim

But homosexual consider him

(above them all consider him)

The biggest crime is jim and jim!
Posted by diver dan, Wednesday, 2 November 2011 2:31:11 PM
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