Comments on: Do Rights Belong in the Classroom?

By: kurt

kurt — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:13:40 +0000

I am pleasantly surprised to have stumbled upon this site with such insightful stories. Thank you. Although I understand human nature, I’m not quite sure how human rights could be criticized.

By: David Jacobson

David Jacobson — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:37:16 +0000

Robin Kirk’s reflection is an interesting one, and there is indeed an argument to be made for thinking about human rights as a field. I believe there are risks with institutionalization of human rights in this sense. Its power is in part its diffuseness, across different disciplines, between different organizations, as part of a more general discourse. To make it a “field” is to risk boxing it off, and perhaps weaken its appeal.

But I think it i important at the same time to look at human rights in a critical vein as well–and I am glad Robin Kirk alludes to this. Some see it as a veil for imperialism (I very much disagree) and others as see a point of possible conflict between human rights and democracy (in certain, defined circumstances this may be true).

Whether a field or not, there is a very interesting conversation to be had.

David Jacobson, Professor of Global Studies and Sociology
dshjacobson@gmail.com

By: Sylvia Piggott

Sylvia Piggott — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:34:08 +0000

I think human rights is so important to our peaceful existence in a global society that it should be taught at an early age – at least starting at high school. The younger we are when we understand that human rights is the foundation of civilized societies the less hate and conflict we should encounter as we try to exist in the global society. With established human rights which are respected by all nations and all peoples, the astronomical amount of funds, energies, and lives wasted in waging war because of differences could be better used to alleviate poverty.