The United States was the only country in the UN to vote against ...

[ColbertWatcher]

Poll question: The United States was the only country in the UN to vote against ...

... a "right to food" and to protect the "rights of children" (Among other things)

In addition, far too many people believe their right to religion trumps another's right to marriage and control over her own body (also among other things).

This got me thinking, exactly what do we have rights to?

[niyad]

1. a right to be free of religious tyranny in all its manifestations--the right of women to bodily

integrity-- etc., etc.,

[ColbertWatcher]

2. I agree to both.

It's high time the religious start using those tax-protected churches for what they're designed for: their religious ceremonies.

[niyad]

3. sickening that the US has still not ratified CEDAW.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. (UPDATED) I did not know this. I had to look it up (link inside) ...

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/reports.htm

United States of America
not a party to CEDAW convention

Shameful.

(EDITED TO ADD)

Oh, and I looked up other countries we share this distinction with:

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Nauru

Palau

Qatar

Somalia

Sudan

Tonga

[niyad]

5. and the majority of people in this country haven't a clue about this. yes, we are in some wonderful

company, aren't we?

[ColbertWatcher]

7. Shameful, no wonder Rick Warren is so popular. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

6. And the US and GB were the only ones to veto Iraq repairing their water system during the 1990s.

Apparently we were fine with allowing hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children to die of dysentery.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Do you have a link for that? I'd really like to read about that. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

10. here:

:( Policies Bush I--->Clinton--->Bush II

*** Read this article. It's a tactic, a f*cking tactic. :(

http://www.countercurrents.org/iraq-hassan040804.htm

Unmasked War Against Iraqi Children
A humanitarian crisis has been looming in Iraq since the 1991 U.S. war due to shortage of drinking water and increase in waterborne diseases that kill children.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14306949

Record numbers are dying, many because the lack of a clean water supply has led to diseases such as dysentery and cholera. For every 1,000 children born, 131 die before their fifth birthday, according to a survey by Unicef, the UN's children's fund.

***

The UN Security Council controls the humanitarian programme. That means Iraqis can expect no change for the moment because of the position of two of the Council's veto-wielding permanent members, the US and Britain. They insist sanctions cannot be lifted until President Saddam Hussein comes clean about his weapons programmes, in accordance with UN resolutions.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/reconstruct/2007/0407money.htm

But Iraq was in such poor condition not because of the neglect by the regime but because the US and its allies bombed its infrastructure in the 1991 war. Then the US used its veto on the Security Council for 13 years to block Iraq from importing any equipment to rebuild industry, agriculture, electricity production or the other things necessary for the functioning of an industrialised society.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2000/mar/04/weekend7.weekend9

Squeezed to death
Half a million children have died in Iraq since UN sanctions were imposed - most enthusiastically by Britain and the US. Three UN officials have resigned in despair. Meanwhile, bombing of Iraq continues almost daily. John Pilger investigates

[ColbertWatcher]

11. Thank you, I'm going to have to do a little more reading now ... n/t

[avaistheone1]

9. This is such a shameful vote on the part of the US.

History will show this as the kind of sick compassionate conservatism the Bush admin has been famous for. The vote is the capper to that.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. "Compassionate conservatism" = Republican Jesus ...

[DBoon]

13. Know your rights! All 3 of them!

Number 1
You have the right not to be killed
Murder is a crime!
Unless it was done by a
Policeman or aristocrat
Know your rights

And number 2
You have the right to food money
Providing of course you
Dont mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation

Number 3
You have the right to free
Speech as long as youre not
Dumb enough to actually try it.

-- The Clash

[depakid]

14. Somalia also voted against rights of the child

[ColbertWatcher]

15. I didn't see that. Here is the link I used ...

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/gashc3941.doc.htm

[depakid]

16. Apparently Somalia was "absent" for that particular vote. UNICEF has this rundown:

How many countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

More countries have ratified the Convention than any other human rights treaty in history—192 countries had become State Parties to the Convention as of November 2005.

Who has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and why?

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely and rapidly ratified human rights treaty in history. Only two countries, Somalia and the United States, have not ratified this celebrated agreement. Somalia is currently unable to proceed to ratification as it has no recognized government. By signing the Convention, the United States has signalled its intention to ratify—but has yet to do so.

http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30229.html

One of the objections raised by senators from certain regions was that ratification would be inconsistent with their states' desire to execute juvenile offenders.

Fortunately, that one was removed in 2005 by the 5-4 USSCt decision in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmons">Roper v. Simmons.

[ColbertWatcher]

18. I can't tell you how shameful that is for me.

What has our nation become?

[WinkyDink]

17. This planet is it. It had been, in a real sense, Eden. Humans should be in awe, and live in peace.

[AZBlue]

19. the problem is not with the right to religion, it's how that right is defined.

You have the right to practice whatever religion you choose, however you choose, as long as it does not break laws. And that means you have the right to live your life according to that religion.

But you do not have the right to tell me how to live my life. Your religion, your life; my religion, my life.

[DutchLiberal]

20. We have no rights. We only have temporary priviliges.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x252111

[ddeclue]

21. .