I refuse to turn and walk away

As an ode to the continuing Human Rights violations the world over, I’m offering my little contribution to the cause. It may not have a huge impact, but as a person living in a less privileged existence, I am in a way, a victim too.

As we browse the internet, we read heart-wrenching stories: Tibet, illegal detentions, Darfur (this is beyond belief, one of the most unimaginable, but it is continually happening right now) and a host of other issues that warrant attention.

We have displacement, illegal detention, disappearances, murder, and corruption in my country too. My earlier post talked about being a kid during Martial Law years in the Philippines. Although we were not directly affected, the repercussions of those years are still being felt up to now.

During those times a lot of political activists disappeared, their families up to now, hoping to find closure and justice. The economy went bankrupt, controlled by the ruling class; we are still paying for the huge debts. As of this writing, you cannot walk in an ordinary street without seeing families sleeping on sidewalks, they don’t just stay there for a brief respite, they live there. One instance, last week one head of the family was interviewed on TV. The government was giving out access cards to locals for the purchase of government subsidized rice. These cards were aimed to be distributed to registered voters in every local government unit. The sad part was, the family interviewed on TV was living on a sidewalk. With discarded milk cartons for walls and roof. They do not belong in any local government unit. This inability to have access to the basic government services, such as subsidized rice is a colossal human rights violation.

* One of our national heroes Benigno Aquino Jr., was murdered as he was going down a plane.
* His alleged gunman was also shot seconds after Aquino was shot.
* Political activists disappear without trace.

The list goes on and on, watch an ordinary newscast and you’ll see the extent of desecration on the rights of our Filipino brethren.

All these would have made sense if all of us were immortals. Living forever we can disregard other people’s basic rights, because we are not answerable to anything.

But, we are not. So, it is only right to respect and value every single human being. Some people should try it for once, it's liberating.