Quotation Q and Human Rights - Essay Example

?Anas Musharraf Michael R. H. Swanson CORE 102.19 15 May Quotation Q This quotation focuses on the need for observation of human rights, which entail right to life, liberty, as well as the pursuit of happiness. Every human being has a right to life, right to liberty as well as search for happiness (Freeman 3). These rights are unalienable from man since we are born with them. God provided them to every man and thus, no one can alienate them except the person who provided them, and who is God. Every human being has a right to live and that nobody can take or deny the other such right. Actions, which might threaten or lead to loss of life contradict the right, and thus need condemnation (Freeman 5). All constitutions of the world recognize and respect the right to life and that any person who attempts or violates it faces stiff penalty. For instance, when a person kills another person, he faces life sentence for violating the right of the deceased to live. This is evident in several countries such as in the Middle East whereby tyrants who had been accused of mass murder of human beings got punished. Former Iraq president, Saddam Hussein was hanged for killing many people during his reign (Freeman 5). Therefore, since nobody provided right to life to a fellow being, he or she has no right of taking such right from another being by killing or threatening. However, there are some instances when such right is denied or when a person accused of killing a fellow human being is pardoned (Freeman 9). Such situation arises when the accused was trying to defend himself or herself from murder by the deceased. This normally happen when in times of conflict such as war or when a person turns wild and desires to kill. Moreover, when a person kills the other, and thus turns to be a security threat to public, police officers kill him (Freeman 9). A good instance occurs during mass shootings which have characterized the U.S.A. and which have left many people grieving from loss of loved ones. A recent incident was the US school shooting in Brooklyn, Newtown. Consequently, all constitutions on earth recognize and respect the right to liberty of all human beings. People have a right to be free from all forms of bondage and slavery. Capturing or enslaving a fellow human being is currently an international offence condemned by all nations (Freeman 11). Unlike in the past when people were taken as slaves due to debt or as war captives, all constitutions of the world prohibit the act and even imposes heavy penalty on the offenders. Since God created human beings when they were not under the rule or authority of anybody, no person should be denied such right. Right to liberty ensures that people move around the earth doing as they wish with their freedom so long as they respect and accord the same to other people (Freeman 14). Therefore, people who capture their fellow human beings contradict the right to liberty. Such acts include those witnessed by illegal groups such as militants or pirates who capture sailors and keep or otherwise kill them. A good example is the capturing of sailors in Indian Ocean by Somali pirates who demand huge ransom in order to release the captives. This action is bad and illegal since it contravenes the captives’ right to move (Freeman 14). However, the right to liberty is restricted in some instances. Such instances include when a person commits a criminal offence, and thus convicted and sentenced to imprisonment. While serving a prison term, a person is denied the right to be free (Freeman 14). This is a form of punishment directed at the prisoner in order to compel him to change from criminal activities. Human beings also have a right to lead a happy life on earth. Such freedom is God – given and thus, nobody should be denied (Freeman 27). God created human beings to be happy creatures and thus, should thank him for such right by worshiping him. Therefore, actions, which inhibit man from pursuing happiness on earth go against the right and thus, need condemnation. Thus, human beings have a right to search for happiness whenever they wish so long as their actions do not infringe on others’ right to pursue the same (Freeman 28). Consequently, denying someone the right to pursue happiness is unconstitutional in all countries. Issues such as conflicts, poverty, and diseases inhibit one’s ability to pursue happiness (Freeman 28). Therefore, such issues should be under control by the government. In case the government fails to control the issues, citizens have a right to seek for proper governance through democratic means or through revolutions as witnessed in Arab countries such as Libya, Mali, and Egypt. A perfect example was the Arab revolution in most Islamic countries. These countries witnessed revolutions when the citizens took it upon themselves to abolish tyrants and dictators who had been in power for long periods yet there was no improvement of the people’s welfare as well as being denied right to pursue happiness. Although the revolution started slowly, it quickly spread and led to downfall of several leaders who promoted oppression and infringement of human rights (Freeman 35). These leaders included Ben Ali, Muammar Gaddafi, and Hosni Mubarak among others. Since they promoted human suffering and violation of human rights, citizens of the respective countries had no option but to abolish their governments. This is because human beings value right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and thus any person who infringes on those rights denies them the right to lead a happy life as anticipated by God (Freeman 36). By removing dictators from power, there is a surety of installing a good government, which respects people, recognizes their rights, provides security, initiates economic developments, and thus contributes to the overall well being of people in the society (Freeman 55). Thus, the right to life, liberty and pursue happiness need to be recognized and respected by all everyone on earth without bias. This is because respect of such rights increases the well-being of human beings by reducing misery and improving living standards while increasing life span. Therefore, every institution or person needs to recognize such rights and respect them in order for the world to be a secure place to dwell in. Works Cited Freeman, Michael. Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 2011. Print. Read More