To understand human rights is to respect human rights

To understand human rights is to respect human rights

Almost all people in the Republic of Indonesia could speak of human rights to indicate that they are well-educated and civilized.

However, do we all understand the right sense of the word "human rights" and thus respect the human being, as stipulated in the human rights declaration?

The reform government, which has given its commitment to reject any kind of criminal act, has in fact been unable to settle various human rights violations.

The commemoration of the universal declaration of human rights every Dec. 10 should be a good momentum for us to introspect on various acts which degrade the human being and our own nation.

The human rights document, introduced in 1948, aims to give universal protection to all human beings, regardless of their nationality, ethnic background, party affiliation, religion, race and color.

Although certain groups of people in Indonesia believe that human rights values originated from western countries, we have to accept good values wherever they come from.

In principle, to understand human rights is to respect our neighbors as human beings.

Thus, various events such as the tragedies that occurred in Tanjung Priok, Aceh, Trisakti and Semanggi and on July 27, which were all violations of human rights, should be fully settled.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta

;; ANPAk..r.. Otherops-Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld JP/6/ops

Donald Rumsfeld

Donald Rumsfeld can be criticized for a lot of things. But the U.S. defense secretary's use of English is not one of them. The Plain English Campaign has shot itself in the foot this week by giving Rumsfeld its annual Foot in Mouth award for this comment, delivered at a press conference earlier in the year:

"Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me," Rumsfeld said, "because, as we know, there are known knowns, there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."

This is indeed a complex, almost Kantian, thought. It needs a little concentration to follow it. Yet it is anything but foolish. It is also perfectly clear. It is expressed in admirably plain English, with not a word of jargon or gobbledygook in it. A Cambridge literary theorist, U.S. Air Force war gamer or Treasury tax law draftsman would be sacked for producing such a useful thought so simply expressed in good Anglo-Saxon words. So let Rummy be. The Plain English Campaign should find itself a more deserving target for its misplaced mockery.

-- The Guardian, London