I glady deny the rights to a 'way of life' that...
Reader comment on item: Op Eds Now More Central in War than Bullets
in response to reader comment: foolish thoughts

Submitted by CanadianChris (Canada), Oct 19, 2006 at 13:23

Submitted by syed mohammad ali,

"how could you deny the rights of people if they want to be islam as their way of life"

It is easy to deny that choice when it becomes harmful to the whole. Let us examine other 'ways of life'...

1. Cannibalism -As recently as 2006 a a rescue attempt was reported for a 6 year old boy from the Korowai in Papua, Indonesians who are rumored to still practice ritual cannibalism as a 'way of life'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibalism This is a practice that if true needs to be ended.
2. Pedophilia- A 'way of life' that the men of NAMBLA claim to desire.
3. Elitist discrimination- this 'way of life' leaves little or no reasonable room for other cultural groups and belief systems. (the politics of the west allows Islam to propagate, and yet if a westerner was in an Islamic country western beliefs or even any contrary beliefs are persecuted). Religions should only be tolerated to the degree that they demonstrate tolerance(Gender/ religious/ economic/ political/ cultural). I would submit that it is the role of politics to objectively remove the threat of dangerously intolerant religion.
4. Genital mutilation of women- A 'way of life' that is damaging to the whole woman. This is dangerous.
5. Gender inequality- This is a global issue that needs to be confronted as it arses and has been shown to be quite prominent in some specific cultures that claim it is a part of a 'way of life'

When someone complains about the attack on a way of life, I would encourage everyone to examine whether or not this way of life would be acceptable according to the universal declaration of human rights which must supercede any religion of this planet because every religion is the truth to its adherents, therefore there has to be a worldy yardstick with which to ensure that 'we all get along' that stands above religion and culture.

Preamble to the DHR

"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people"

http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

The goals of humanity can be filtered through this, and when a threat, whether religious, racial, cultural, or in whatever form it shows its face as, it needs to be confronted for its opposition to the rights of humanity, and 'way of life' be damned if it does not aspire to join the ranks of those who would promote the striving toward the principles of this declaration.

The Death penalty in muslim countries for a person who has converted away from Islam definitely qualifies as a breach of human rights under Article 18-

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

This breach among many is compelling evidence of a need to resist Islam as an expansionist, Intolerant cuture/religion.

I would also controversially add that...

Article5- No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

in fairness I would submit that the inhuman treatment of prisoners by the American interrogators is not a culture but a fear response to an indistinguishable enemy. Still America needs to back away from methods that allow it to sink to the level of its detractors, and consequently diminish its 'righteousness' . If our idea of freedom is worth fighting for, it is worth fighting for freedom's HIGHEST ideals.

Maybe I am just Naive

CanadianChris

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