Thursday December 10, 2020
On December 10, 1948, something extraordinary occurred. The nascent United Nations adopted a document known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor Roosevelt who had been appointed as the U.S. representative to the new body played a leading role as the Chair of the committee that drafted the Declaration.
Considering the time, the fact that the Soviet Union had cemented its power in Eastern Europe and China was still engaged in civil war, it was truly amazing that not only was such a document drafted but approved. Like many ideals, it has probably been honored more in its breach than in its acceptance.
This year has been a real test for its principles. Chinese suppression of rights in Hong Kong and persecution of Uighurs, Indian martial law in Kashmir, the rise of autocrats in Poland and Hungary and the imprisonment of democracy activists in Belarus only serve to remind us how fragile the principles of freedom and dignity can be. Let us pray and work for human rights here in the United States as well as the rest of the world.
Prayer for the Day
Hold us in your light, O Lord, so we can cast away the darkness
That holds us and contains us in its prison;
More than knowledge of the mind, we seek wisdom of the spirit,
That frees us from our past and moves us into the future.
Illumine us with your presence and shape our response
So we live the radical equality of the Gospel preached.
In the name of the One who is your Gospel,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thoughts for the Day
Where do human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.
-Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
To deny people their human rights is to deny their very humanity.
-Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard your words;
They shall sing of the ways of the Lord or great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high the lowly are regarded,
But the haughty are perceived from far away.
Psalm 137: 4-6