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The U.S. Has Its Own Spin on this Year’s Observance of International Human Rights Day

LatinaLista — Today is the international observance of Human Rights Day.

Latina Lista, along with other Latina/o bloggers, have made it our mission to highlight the shortcomings of U.S. policy in regard to immigration, the treatment of undocumented immigrants and border security.
As we end another year, and get set to embark on the beginning in 2008 of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we know that the next year will be a test of the moral convictions and human compassion of the citizens of this country.
It is a test that if we pass will certainly strain the growing divide enveloping this country.
If we fail, it will exemplify the growing tide of intolerance, discrimination and blissful ignorance of what happens outside our borders that has become increasingly synonymous with the characterization of the United States from our global neighbors.


On the domestic front, the United States government is enduring constant criticism for what is commonly seen as violations of basic human rights:

  • The forced imprisonment of women and children in immigrant detention facilities.
  • The forced separation of families that are of mixed citizenship status.
  • The harassment by some local law enforcement of “Hispanic-looking” citizens in their search of the undocumented.
  • The passage of legislative measures with the sole intent of driving undocumented members of the community out.
  • The attempt to strip undocumented immigrants of their dignity.

With the theme for the 2008 anniversary of Human Rights Day already set as: “Dignity and Justice for All of Us,” extra effort will emerge in the blogosphere and on the grassroots level to elevate the message of what is happening to the undocumented in this country and how the country’s real fear of terrorism is being manipulated and transferred onto a group that has no voice, no representation, no respect and poses no real threat.
There is hope in 2008 that things will change because people are learning to use technology and their voices to better inform the public about what is happening.
The only commitment it takes is to listen.

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Comment(5)

  • Frank
    December 10, 2007 at 7:30 pm

    You know it really pains me to read all of these false allegations and spins of the truth against our country and it’s citizens, especially coming from a fellow American citizen.
    We are truly becoming a nation divided by those who value our sovereingty and laws and those who put the interests of illegal foreigners of like ethnicity above these things.
    I fear the future of our country is at stake. A Russian leader once said that this country will be taken from within by communism without even having to fire a shot. Sadly, I think he was right.

  • Horace
    December 10, 2007 at 7:31 pm

    1. The forced imprisonment of women and children in immigrant detention facilities.
    Gee, when, in the past, they were released with a promise to show for their hearing, but they never kept their word. We’re supposed to repeat the stupidity of the past by trusting them. Your solution is that they wear tracking devices, but, as I’ve said before, how could we trust them to keep them on? You have no acceptable solutions, just criticisms. You assign your feelings to the children. I’ll bet that most of the younger children treat this as a game. Your weeping is pure exaggeration, meant to play on other people’s emotions in order to gain sympathy. Shame on you! The real shame is that you seem to care little for the fate of Mexico’s illegal aliens, who suffer a much nastier fate. We treat our illegal aliens far better, but admitting to that doesn’t serve to advocate your agenda, which is to paint as bleak a picture as possible and smear your own country, in spite of the truth.
    2. The forced separation of families that are of mixed citizenship status.
    Oh my, illegal aliens who have children here are supposed to get a free pass. Have a child and you’re guaranteed a visa or a green card. Get real. Can you say the words, “a practice obviously open to widespread abuse, if permitted.” You treat illegal alien adults like children, and in the process, insult them. We don’t fail to prosecuted felonious citizens, a process that could very well separate them from their children, so why should foreign tresspassers be given special treatment. It’s a lie that illegal aliens are prevented from ultimately accompanying their progeny. These people are responsible for their children regardless of birthright. It is not the U.S. fault, but that of the parent when the child suffers from the bad acts of the parent. We all remember Alvira, who made a considered decision to separate herself from her child, just to make a point.
    3. The harassment by some local law enforcement of “Hispanic-looking” citizens in their search of the undocumented.
    Can you say the words, “absolutely no evidence that such abuse is widespread.”
    4. The passage of legislative measures with the sole intent of driving undocumented members of the community out.
    Can you say the words, “not entitled to be present in the country in the first place.”
    5. The attempt to strip undocumented immigrants of their dignity.
    Can you say the words, “when a person is forced out of his homeland by his own government, and winds up on a street corner begging for work, he’s lost much of his dignity already.” How much respect can an illegal alien expect from U.S. citizens, when, with full understanding of the nature of his act, crossing a foreign border illicitly, he can be deported without notice?

  • yave begnet
    December 10, 2007 at 9:11 pm

    extra effort will emerge in the blogosphere and on the grassroots level to elevate the message of what is happening to the undocumented in this country and how the country’s real fear of terrorism is being manipulated and transferred onto a group that has no voice, no representation, no respect and poses no real threat.
    It’s like I think Ron Paul and Mike Gravel each pointed out in different debates–immigrants are being targeted as scapegoats for economic and security fears. The worrying thing is that, if (when) the economy tanks over the next year or so, the scapegoating may intensify.

  • EYES OF TEXAS
    December 11, 2007 at 10:59 am

    If Jose works for 20% less money than John, then Juan will most likely get the job. If John wants the job, he will have to accept less money than Juan, thus lowering the pay level. If this scenario is repeated throughout the working class, then the pay scale is pulled down on a national level. With less money to spend on things other than necessities, the economy is going to feel the impact. Remove Jose from the scenario, and John gets the job at the pay level he wants and is able to purchase items that will help keep the economy afloat. Not too hard to figure out.

  • Frank
    December 11, 2007 at 12:06 pm

    yave, that is not true. We really do have a security threat at our borders by them being unsecured with or without illegal aliens coming to look for work. We don’t need any scapegoats, the threat is real on it’s own.
    As far as the economy goes, we have only seen a downturn in it recently with the housing bubble burst. See “Eyes of Texas” remarks about how the availability of cheap illegal alien labor effects job availability and wages for Americans. How can facts become scapegoating? Facts are real and undisputable.

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