Monday is Human Rights Day

According to the BBC, in a keynote speech on human rights at the African-European summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the whole European Union "has the same view" of what is happening in Zimbabwe, where Mr Mugabe is accused of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy. It is amazing how universal man's agreement is on basic human rights. The U.S. lead in the creation of an international bill or rights -- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- and Tuesday is its 60th birthday. I am glad that our European brethren are holding Mugabe to its standard, at least verbally. I hope others guilty of infringing on human rights will soon face similar international criticism.

I also hope that the government of the United States of America will also improve on its human rights record! Lets give prisoners rights to be heard, and quit torturing them. Lets let the crack dealers be treated in the same way that the powdered cocaine dealers are treated. Lets get rid of the death penalty. Let us make innocence a suitable grounds to appeal of criminal convictions. Lets treat immigrants as people with rights, even if they are illegal. Lets protect the privacy of our citizens from unwarranted infringement by the government. Lets give all people equal protection of the law, not only formally but protecting minorities from prejudice in the enforcement of the laws.