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Human Rights Day

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

The aforementioned statement comes from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With Human Rights Day right around the corner (December 10th), I find myself contemplating what this declaration means to me. Upon reflection, this proclamation greatly disappoints me.

I am disappointed for a number of reasons. I feel let down. I am saddened by the fact that our country has not lived up to its own words. The world is filled with inequities.  Men and women are not treated equally, education is obviously better in areas with higher degrees of wealth, health care is not available to all, and gay men and women are not able to wed those they love. It is on this day that we as citizens need to unite and fight for equality… We must call for action!

On December 10th, 2008, gay rights activists “called in gay” to work in protest of the passage of proposition 8. In 2009, Human Rights Day will focus on non-discrimination. Activist across the globe are asking citizens to participate by supporting organizations dedicated to helping lessen the discrimination faced by millions. I encourage everyone to contact local non-profits and find out how YOU can help. It is essential that we work on this together!

- Scott

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One of Many Restrictions of the Youth

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Parental controls — we’ve all seen the option for this on your browser or computer and perhaps some of us have experienced the effects of such parental controls in a variety of situations. As mentioned in an article for the magazine about youth rights, parents are often a major source of influence and restrictions on the ability of the youth to exert control over their lives. Considering that parents are probably the first adults that a child comes into contact with, they often have a huge role in determining the limits of the youth’s power to exert control over their lives as they grow older. Personally I believe that parents, of all people, should be allowing their child greater extents of freedom. I suppose it would be hard to generalize since each kid is different from another but there are often signs that indicate that they are mature enough to handle their own lives, or at least, more of it than is assumed. However, with the current levels of restriction it is evident that it has resulted in many parent-child conflicts.

- Vivian

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Fair Trials

Monday, November 16th, 2009

This week, it seemed like even the most out-of-it kids at school were talking about the tragedy at Fort Hood. The alleged shooter, Nidal Hasan, killed 13 people. At first, some reports said he had been killed, but subsequently it was discovered that he was still alive. Currently, he’s in the hospital, and may be paralyzed. I was thinking about the mantra that you’re “innocent until proven guilty.” But in this case, does anybody seriously doubt that Hasan is guilty? And is it fair to assume he’s the shooter at this point? Obviously, the evidence is stacked against him, and he’s the only suspect. I’m not arguing that he is innocent. But will he receive a fair trial? After all, his name has been plastered in the news, and his association with the crime is clear. It would be hard to find a jury that wasn’t biased. It’s nearly impossible to sympathize with Hasan, but at the same time, I feel that everyone is entitled to a fair legal process, and I can’t see how he’ll get one.

- Will

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I Call Shenanigans

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

The University of Illinois has been under investigation for allowing under-qualified yet well-connected students admission to the university. Now everyone on the Board of Trustees is being asked to resign for allowing or participating in the shady admissions process. As if a completely new Board will wipe the slate clean, banishing such questionable practices from this university forever. Due to this investigation, the admissions process at the top public high schools in Chicago is now too being looked at. Now not to be rude, but who’s in charge of this investigation, Captain Obvious? Of course, there’s special treatment for people with connections the only real surprise that could possibly come from all this is if they found leprechauns filing the paper work. Academic merit only goes so far in most cases, but smooth talking a teacher or Board of Trustee is more common and much easier. No, it’s not ethical or fair to the have-nots, but those other people were just using the resources available to them. Anyone who has some pull anywhere tries to use it to his or her advantage, and those who say they wouldn’t are liars.

- Ruben

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