Commentary: US No Longer Leads on Human Rights

Earlier this month, people around the world celebrated the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Americans take pride in the fact that our compatriots—including former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, trade unionists, and other human rights advocates—led the way in making human rights a basis for the post-war world order.

Today we are at a new crossroads in history, and our country stands alone among Western powers on the human rights questions of our day. Long out of step with Western allies in its position on the death penalty, the U.S. now faces serious complaints of rights violations related to the “war on terror.” And just last week, the U.S. also stood isolated from the West (as it stood with countries like Saudi Arabia , Uganda , and Sudan ) in its refusal to sign a nonbinding United Nations declaration calling for a worldwide decriminalization of homosexual activity.

Discriminatory policies lead to hate crimes and other violence. This reality prompted world leaders to take a stand against laws denying basic rights. To address the urgent social problems our world faces, we need policies that unite, rather than divide our communities.

– Jackie Smith

[The preceding is the text of a letter to the editor submitted to the South Bend Tribune.]

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