As a pious person, I am overwhelmed by the duplicity of organized religion. People of one religious faith or another war and have for centuries. I do not understand this. Rigid religious affiliations are not mine.
After ample research, I have come to believe that all religions value similar "truths." Honor, love, respect, peace among men is the foundation of every faith. Yet, nevertheless, people battle. They have for centuries. It seems few if any flock is exempt.
Some conflicts ignite solely on the basis of religious differences. Much of what we witness in parts of the Middle East can be correlated to differences among congregations. One faction or another will fight to the death for their idea of the ideal, G-d. People pose as though they are holier than thou.
My belief is religious "realities" are neither right, nor reasonable; these traditions rely on our ability to suspend belief. Blind faith in an external force determines what congregations think.
Alas, religion is not the only source of derision. Race, ethnicity, creed, hair color, age, body type, even food choices divide us. I am often slammed and damned for I do not eat meat.
Nonetheless, I submit to you the essay that prompted a sorrowful reflection. My intent to was not promote a way of life or advance a particular "applied religious philosophy." I genuinely hoped to further the assurance "All men are created equal." My desire continues. Perhaps we can communicate a message of love without religious convictions.
Please ponder; reflect upon the paradox. As humans, we agree; we are born free and equal. We each have rights. Love, peace, parity among [wo]men is vital. Yet, we argue. We are split. We divide.
At times, verbiage enhances the visual. A photograph may fill the screen and our hearts; however, the words whispered as an accompaniment makes the message more meaningful. I believe the essence of a communication can be captivating. It can cause us to cry. It may touch our soul. Perhaps it will help us to think more deeply. When the verbal expressions advance the beauty of a presentation, that is glorious.
Consider the times you saw an individual. You observed the image he or she presented. Then they spoke seriously. This being shared his or her soul, their life story. Their words wowed you. They warmed your heart. The spoken language clarified, it corrected a misimpression. Your heart and mind opened. What you thought you knew was not as it appeared to be.
In this production, the gentle language helps us to remember the innate longing for equality. The reflective nature encourages conscious thought. We cannot avoid what we know. Throughout the globe, we witness injustice, and there is no reason for such divisiveness.
We are born innocent, without hatred or bigotry. However, we learn.
As our faces age and harden, so too do our hearts. Naiveté is fleeting. Purity fades too fast. Goodness does not leave our body; the flood of hurts cause great harm. We forget. Virtue is still within. Might we discover it again through empathy.
We are all born free, equal among men, women, and children. Each of us has rights, for we exist. Dignity is due to us all.
Please embrace the avowal and the endeavors of Youth For Human Rights International. My hope is their mission will be ours. Worldwide and individually, we will actively acknowledge the value of every entity.
Do you know what Human Rights are?
Every person is entitled to certain rights - simply by the fact that they are a human being. They are "rights" because they are things you are allowed to be, to do, or to have. These rights are there for your protection against people who might want to harm or hurt you. They are also there to help us get along with each other and live in peace.
Many people know something about their rights. They know they have a right to be paid for the work they do and they have a right to vote. But there exist many other rights.
When human rights are not well known by people, abuses such as discrimination, intolerance, injustice, oppression, and slavery can arise.
Born out of the atrocities and enormous loss of life during World War II, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created by the United Nations to provide a common understanding of what everyone's rights are. It forms the basis for a world built on freedom, justice, and peace.
In my family voices were not raised loudly. Slight tonal changes spoke volumes. A look could cut through the skin. When my Mom felt hurt, she made this known. She voiced the statement, "I have rights." We all do. Yet, at times these are denied us.
Another righteous soul might react in a manner that suggests they are superior. Their behaviors seem sanctimonious. Often, this smug attitude is a reflection of fear; nevertheless, such an approach creates havoc. People are hurt. Relationships are harmed. Often, these do not recover.
When we witness contempt, or recognize that we are engaging in a way that disrespects another, we must recall, "What we do unto others will be done unto us."
Human rights, civil rights must be granted to us all if we are to live in peace and harmony. Wars do not just happen people start them. If I aggress against my brethren, I can expect he will attack me.
Poverty is not a given; it is a man-made construct. Man learns to set limits. If I hoard, I ignore the needs of my fellow man. If I hold on too tightly to all that is mine, I can gather no more. My hands are full; I do not have the capacity to grasp what is beyond.
Discrimination is deliberate. I choose to determine whether race, sex, religion, or status matters.
Please be aware of what you, he, she, I, or we cause. Consider what you, he, she, I, or we create when we do not honor every human being equally. Look upon your brother and your sister as a child would before they learn to hate. They have a right to be, just as you, I, or we do.
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