America Supports Human Rights Abuses

Can we have a show of hands - how many people feel that America is a supporter of human rights around the world?  Most Americans feel that our country is, overall, a force for good.  Undoubtedly, the US government does a lot of good all over the world.  But programs like George W. Bush's campaign to combat AIDS in Africa are easy choices to make - relatively cheap, not likely to offend any allies, lots of good photo ops.

But what about the hard choices?  What happens when America's strategic interests conflict with supporting human rights?  If given the choice between acting in a way that is perceived to benefit America or its allies, on one hand, or supporting human or democratic rights, on the other, human rights will get the rejection letter every time.  (William Blum's excellent book "Killing Hope" details numerous such situations from all over the world.)  In the short term, this is expedient, but in the long term, it degrades our position in the world and actually makes us less safe.

An excellent example of this is Bahrain.  Though you would never know if from reading the headlines or watching CNN, the Bahraini government is brutally repressing peaceful protests against the Bahraini monarchy.  Two recent editorials in the New York Times give a clear picture of what is happening:   

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/opinion/sunday/kristof-when-bahrain-said-get-lost.html?hp

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/opinion/bahrain-a-brutal-ally.html

The cycle of protests and repression in Bahrain has been going on nearly a year.  It is rarely mentioned in the mainstream media, and when it is, the US government replies with a deafening silence.

Why?  There are many reasons.  First of all, as noted by Ms. al-Khawaja, Bahrain is the home of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, an essential installation for our presence in the Persian Gulf.  We cannot do or say anything that would jeopordize the relationship that allows our Navy to stay in Bahrain.  Also, Bahrain is a friend of Saudi Arabia, and we can say what we want about any nation on Earth, but no one - no one who likes oil - wants to offend Saudi Arabia.  The Fifth Fleet is in the Persian Gulf to ensure that oil shipments from the Saudis make it to American markets.  This is critical for keeping American gas prices low, and it is essential to the Saudi oil industry.  So we are in the uncomfortable position of providing security for a foreign country's oil shipments, while at the same time turning a blind eye to another country's brutal repression of pro-democracy demonstrations.  Definitely not a shining reference on our nation's human rights resume.

Here at the Common Sense Pundit, while we are offended at America's choice of oil over human rights, we understand that the world is a tough place, and its full of hard choices.  We are concerned though, that the people on the street in the Arab/Mulsim world will not be so understanding.  When the angry young men in Manama - or Yemen or Gaza - see the US sending arms and money to the rebels in Libya and Syria, but ignoring pleas for assistance from their own country's activists, they will be easily turned to violent and extreme actions to further their goals. 

This is what breeds terrorism.  When a political movement sees no other option than violence.  This is the situation we are actively supporting in Bahrain.  When the next attack comes, we will share the blame.

American peace activist William Sloane Coffin famously noted that "Every nation makes decisions based on self-interest and defends them on the basis of morality."  Only, in this case, he got it half right.  America is indeed acting in its own self interest, but we do not even bother to defend our actions.  Because, we know we are guilty, and - among the tumult of the 24 hour news cycle and the latest celebrity scandals - we know that it is best to remain silent and hope that our transgressions will be lost in the shuffle.  However, we should expect more of our government - especially the Hope and Change of the Obama administration.  When faced with hard choices, we expect our elected and appointed government officials to be honest with the American people. Tell us: "We support the human rights abuses in Bahrain because, to Americans, oil is more important than human rights, and our short term relationships with our allies in the Gulf are more important than America's long term security."     

Gun Regulation - The Time Has Come

In the wake of the Newton shootings, momentum is building for real change to our gun control laws.  The mothers of Netwon, Connecticut - and mothers all over the country - will take on the gun lobby and the do-nothing US congress.  The mothers will win.  There is no force in politics that can equal mothers when they are armed with facts, logic, perseverence, and the emotional power of murdered school children.

Based on the December 21, 2012 comments by Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association - full disclosure:  my father is a life member - the NRA is not willing to be part of the discussion.  This is a mistake.  The NRA has done an excellent job of protecting its members' interests.  However, any objective observer of the gun debate can see that the momentum is moving towards more regulation.  If the NRA does not get on board, its members will not be represented in this debate, and they will not be happy with the outcome.

As the debate gets started, it is worthwhile to look back at the Second Amendment to the Constitution.  It states, in full:  "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."  Gun rights advocates tend to focus on the second part, while no mention is made of the first.  When considering the Second Amendment as a whole - we must assume that this is what the members of the Constitutional Convention in 1789 intended - it is clear that a the right to keep and bear arms is not absolute.  Regulation and security can and should be part of the discussion.   

Let's hope Congress is able to move past the emotional positions taken by both sides in this debate and focus on what the authors of the Second Amendment intended. 

Introduction to Common Sense Pundit

The world is full of people who think they know everything.  Here's one more - but with a difference.  Here at Common Sense Pundit, we bring it all back down to - as the name implies - common sense.  Whether its foreign policy, gun control, marijuana legalization, or raising children, you'll find good, straightforward information and opinions.  Don't take our word for it.  Check out some posts, see what you think, and tell us if we're wrong.  This crazy thing called the Internet is worth a whole lot more to all of us if it can be used to refine the ideas that will make the world a better place.