We cannot look away from history but must learn from it.
Human Rights – after the horrors of WWII, countries from all over the world formed the UN owning the atrocities committed during these years. They wanted to establish a global foundation for what it is to be human and what humanity deserves.
If you visit a Holocaust Museum or even their websites – you will understand that wars don’t begin with weapons. They begin with words. Dehumanizing words and orchestrated propaganda. (talk about these words together.)
“Fear is the path to the dark side…fear leads to anger…anger leads to hate…hate leads to suffering.” Yoda, The Phantom Menace
Instead of “Dark Side,” I would choose the word inhumanity. Let’s talk about those dehumanizing words.
Fear – Anger – hate – suffering – inhumanity
On the other hand, there is another way when things are difficult.
Hope – Is what gives us the motivation to do courageous things – to do what is right and just. We receive hope when we witness others practicing humanity and standing up to those who do not.
Healing – occurs when we find community that stands with us. It does not come without intention or collaboration. We need to show each other that we are all doing our part. Please do not think that just because you don’t consider yourself a community leader, that you don’t have a part to play. Leaders are getting weary. Everyone must do their part as they did after WWII – BEFORE the world becomes completely driven by inhumanity. It’s been repeated throughout recorded history. Find your spiritual grounding. Find like-minded people. Consider what you can do. Do it. Rest. Repeat. Some of my spiritual groundings are printed below.
. . .suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. (Romans 5)
. . . but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40)
Resources And Links Below
UN Declaration of Human Rights Adopted: December 10, 1948
- human-rights-booklet.pdf – Printable booklet
- United Nations Resolutions and Declarations on Human Rights Links to many resources on Human Rights
Note – the US has rejected many of these rights and has stepped away from the Human Rights Council for many reasons.
Women delegates from various countries played a key role in getting women’s rights included in the Declaration. Hansa Mehta of India (standing above Eleanor Roosevelt) is widely credited with changing the phrase “All men are born free and equal” to “All people.” The UN’s objectives, as outlined by its charter, include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and upholding international law.[5] At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; as of 2024, it has 193 sovereign states, nearly all of the world’s recognized sovereign states.[6]
Holocaust Museum Links
- ushmm.org – US Holocaust Museum. Washington DC
- thebremen.org – One of the leading destinations in Atlanta, GA, our Jewish culture, arts and history museum is home to the permanent exhibition Absence of Humanity: The Holocaust Years, 1933-1945;
- abhmuseum.org America’s Black Holocaust Museum
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RDP WRITES 