http://www.bloggernews.net/17985 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:31:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.bloggernews.net/17985#comment-45194 Doug Payton Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:12:12 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/17985#comment-45194 Ah, but that requires making value judgments, and the UN, and the political Left in general, are loathe to do that. "Who are <i>you</i> to say what is decent and fairminded?", would no doubt be the reply. Thus, from that mindset, we get the predictable insanity that results. Ah, but that requires making value judgments, and the UN, and the political Left in general, are loathe to do that. “Who are you to say what is decent and fairminded?”, would no doubt be the reply. Thus, from that mindset, we get the predictable insanity that results.

]]> http://www.bloggernews.net/17985#comment-45142 Alan Byron Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:03:37 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/17985#comment-45142 I read this erudite hardhitting post with a feeling of outrage vindicated. But I would wouldn't I? I am a westerner acculturated, educated brought to maturity with ideas and notions of justice, fairplay, human rights, decency and highest possible human values. Political, social and moral values have evolved over the centuries in the west and are now in conflict with other values that to us are concretised in medieval philosophies. Therefore it seems to me that to criticise the other countries who have hijacked the human rights council for their own ends lacks purpose. What do we expect them to do? We are right of course. Aren't we? They are wrong of course. Aren't they? The fact is they are functions in their behaviour of their culture as are we. They do what they do believing it is right, as do we. Perhaps the answer is for those who are in a position to do so, to make sure that these Councils are actually representative of the institution and constitution of the body that creates them. That is to be composed fairly of all interested groups and parties. Are there no decent, fairminded, impartial men and women in African and Muslim countries? I read this erudite hardhitting post with a feeling of outrage vindicated. But I would wouldn’t I? I am a westerner acculturated, educated brought to maturity with ideas and notions of justice, fairplay, human rights, decency and highest possible human values. Political, social and moral values have evolved over the centuries in the west and are now in conflict with other values that to us are concretised in medieval philosophies. Therefore it seems to me that to criticise the other countries who have hijacked the human rights council for their own ends lacks purpose. What do we expect them to do? We are right of course. Aren’t we? They are wrong of course. Aren’t they? The fact is they are functions in their behaviour of their culture as are we. They do what they do believing it is right, as do we. Perhaps the answer is for those who are in a position to do so, to make sure that these Councils are actually representative of the institution and constitution of the body that creates them. That is to be composed fairly of all interested groups and parties. Are there no decent, fairminded, impartial men and women in African and Muslim countries?

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