China's president indicated yesterday (read the story here) that his country wasn't going to change its stance on human rights. Congressional leaders such as Speaker Boehner, and Representative Pelosi, both urged China to commit to better preserving human rights. Hu said that the US should respect cultural differences and let them deal with their issues their way.
Something about that answer just doesn't sit well with most Americans. Aren't these rights supposed to be for everyone? And isn't everyone supposed to benefit from a government that protects them?
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The tragedy of the shooting in Tucson leaves people asking all sorts of questions. "Why did he do it?" "Why didn't someone stop him before he started shooting" "Can such tragedies be prevented" etc. One of the answers that the politicians love to give is that yes it can be prevented (giving comfort to their constituents) and all they have to do is pass a bill to provide more protection. Protection, a word which here means restrictive and ineffective laws, is usually anything but.
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