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Memo to the USA: Do not do as you do!

The Americans are forever lecturing the world about any manner of things, especially about human rights, the rule of law, etc. etc.     And of course there is the GOP!    What can one say about them?       Read about their latest antics in this piece "Once Again, Senate Republicans Reject International Human Rights" from The Nation.

"On December 4, Republican Senators blocked US adoption of a global convention to protect the disabled. With that, the Republican right, whose election losses have taught them nothing about the changing face of American society or the evolving world role of the United States, signaled that it intends to stall or kill all international treaties sent to the Senate for ratification by the Obama administration. Even pleas from a frail Bob Dole in his wheelchair, and from Senator John McCain, a wounded and tortured war hero, failed to budge fellow Republicans in the name of humanity and justice.

The isolationist GOP is happy to bully other nations but not to help their people achieve rights Americans enjoy. Proponents of the disability convention say that American laws protecting and enhancing the lives of the disabled were considered models in drafting the international pact. But zealots on the right simply added it to an ever-growing list of treaties that they see as ploys by foreigners, UN bureaucrats, socialists or vast gay and feminist conspiracies to take control over American life as we know it—or as they would like to imagine it.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which the Republicans blocked, does not have the force of international law, but only expects countries who ratify it to establish their own policies and laws to protect the disabled, abolish any laws and practices that may discriminate against them and combat stereotypes and prejudices in society toward them. Countries who join the convention are expected to designate a government official to insure that the convention is honored, and report to an independent international experts’ committee on progress made. The fifty articles in the convention cover every aspect of life, with topics from equal rights in property ownership and bank loans to freedom from abuse in care, medical experiments performed without consent or denial of health insurance. Countries are asked to eliminate physical obstacles and barriers to the disabled, and allow them to live independently if they choose to, with access to in-home support. Personal relations are to be protected, with no bars to marriage or parenthood. Appropriate education is to be guaranteed, as is the right to work."



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