I'm all for human rights.... but you don't think there is a human rights agenda?
Did you not recently see the UN that just happened a few days ago where they addressed their agenda on human rights, especially women's right and homosexuality?
THAT is an agenda. It's an agenda that's being pushed from the top down. Look around you. Why do you think you're seeing it from the media? Social media? Blogs? etc.
It's an agenda.
Like I said. EVERYONE has an agenda whether you like it or not.
Actually since I was out of the country and then dealing w/vacation trauma for several weeks I didn't see it. Moving on.
Unfortunately over the past several years the different definitions of "agenda" have been evolving and the second--or third depending on your dictionary source-- has become somewhat pejorative. Definition
#1) A list of items to be discussed at a formal meeting
#2)The underlying intentions or motives of a particular person or group.
I believe you are dealing with #2 and the UN and other organizations are using it with respect to the first definition--or not-- but that doesn't really matter.
To quote Amnesty International, one of the oldest organizations working in the field of human rights: "Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, language, or other status.
Human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life, liberty and freedom of expression; and social, cultural and economic rights including the right to participate in culture, the right to food, and the right to work and receive an education. Human rights are protected and upheld by international and national laws and treaties."
Lots of other definitions but you will find a common thread. Human rights are an idea, a concept, freedoms, moral precepts, a focus, principals or norms, define it as you will --rights inherent to all
human beings. Period. It's false equivalency to compare it to an agenda.
Moving forward, we now have organizations that may have a mission statement, a goal, an objective, an
agenda with regard to human rights. Just because various organizations have an "agenda" or mission with regard to human rights does NOT make "human rights" an agenda.
Many organizations around the world dedicate their efforts to protecting human rights and ending human rights abuses. Different points of view, different agendas and missions. There are various UN organizations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Human Rights Action Center, Human Rights Without Frontiers, etc. These are all
advocacy organizations--advocating for human rights from their individual perspectives or points of view. It's controversial, lots of arguments and disagreements between first world and third world countries.
HUMAN RIGHTS IS NOT AN AGENDA.
Finally, I need to retract a statement I made previously with regard to the inclusion/exclusion in voting of charities with an agenda or those that discriminate. I get irrational when organizations (especially religious organizations who receive government giveway non-profit, non
taxable status and are using my money/taxes to discriminate) promote discrimination against LGBT individuals. I get irrational when I hear LGBT "lifestyle"--how much research does one need, it's not a choice! Imagine if you woke up one day and being straight was illegal--put yourself (generic yourself, not f0xx) in those shoes.
However, I've been an ACLU member for more than 50 years and I've sat through many a board meeting where members and board members alike threatened to resign, to blacklist, threatened to do all sorts of things because ACLU was defending free speech and the free speech rights of neo-Nazis, Nazis or other proponents of hate speech. One either believes in free speech or not, no exceptions. As long the mission of a nominated charity passes the test of the committee and is clear and fully visible to voting members, all that past the guidelines should be available for voting. Then,if an organization that discriminates wins, it's up to Matt to decide if he can support it with his dollars.
Annie