| Oct 18 @ 2:44 AM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution
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southernlass
Posts: 2,240
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I tried to find the actual resolution so I could look it over but haven't been successful. Anyone have a copy they can share with us here? There seems to be a great deal of upset over this matter because apparently the Obama Administration co-sponsored this and some feel that it will impact free speech, undermining our American Constitution. What are your thoughts on this?
Lou Dobbs from CNN weighs in below:
URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrvi_uGSnuU]United Nations Pass Anti Free Speech Resolution[/URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrvi_uGSnuU
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| Oct 18 @ 2:53 AM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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On October 1, 2009, the Obama administration in conjunction with the Egyptian government, introduced an anti-free speech measure to the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (HRC). It was adopted the next day without a vote.
Earlier this year, when the United States sought a seat on the HRC, it was a controversial decision. Many who found the HRC neither credible nor useful, opposed the move. Yet, others were more optimistic that America could change the HRC from within. Perhaps the U.S. could spur debate stemming from its opposition to China, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia on critical human rights votes.
Little evidence suggests that Americans on either side of the aisle contemplated the US entering the ring and supporting the opposition’s anti-freedom measures. Yet now, the current administration has done worse: it’s leading the charge.
The draft resolution, misleadingly titled “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” includes two troubling components. First, it calls on nation states to take “effective measures” to address and combat “any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”. It expresses concern and condemnation of “negative stereotyping of religions and racial groups”. It further attempts to construe this as an international human rights law and obligation. Second, it recognizes the media’s “moral and social responsibilities” and the “importance” that its potential voluntary code of conduct could play in combating intolerance.
This resolution appears to stem from, and constitute a step toward, the Organization of Islamic Conference’s resolution to “combat defamation of religions”. The OIC’s resolution would ban outright the “defaming” of religions, speech critical of religion (even if accurate), and open discussion about any negative consequences resulting from the implementation of religious beliefs (such as Sharia law).
Though both resolutions mention “religions” generally, the context and references of the resolutions make them almost certain to apply only or disproportionately to Islam. Indeed, the defamation of religions resolution singles out treatment of Islam. Yet not surprisingly, the OIC has blatantly refused to curtail hate speech against Jews or Israel. http://infidelsarecool.com/2009/10/16/obama%E2%80%99s-un-resolution-to-stifle-free-speech-on-islam/
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| Oct 18 @ 2:56 AM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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Im sooo for moving away from "politics of fear."
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| Oct 18 @ 3:21 AM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution |
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,175
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Monday, October 05, 2009
By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor
(CNSNews.com) – Seeking to break a longstanding impasse between Western and Islamic nations over freedom of expression, the United States has piloted a finely-balanced resolution through the U.N.’s Human Rights Council which the two sides are choosing to interpret differently.
The resolution was adopted unanimously on Friday, the last day of a month-long session of the Geneva-based council which saw the U.S. actively participating as a member for the first time.
Free speech advocacy groups gave the move a cautious welcome, saying it marked an improvement but still posed difficulties.
The clash between freedom of expression and religious sensibilities, fueled by the furor over the newspaper cartoons satirizing Mohammed, has been one of the most consistently divisive issues in the HRC in its first three years of operation.
Critics have accused Islamic governments of trying to shield Islam from scrutiny and criticism in the non-Muslim world, in the same way as they do by enforcing blasphemy laws at home, often at the expense of Christians and other non-Muslim minorities.
The resolution stresses the importance of freedom of expression, calling it “one of the essential foundations of a democratic society” and urging countries to protect it.
It omits the controversial term “defamation of religion,” which the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has successfully inserted into previous such measures at the U.N.
The resolution does, however, refer to “negative racial and religious stereotyping,” and condemns any advocacy of “religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.” It urges governments to “address and combat such incidents,” in line with their obligations under international law.
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“Defamation of religion” resolutions have passed at the HRC for the past three years, and at its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights, every year from 1999 to 2005. The U.N. General Assembly has also passed one in each of the past four years.
The most recent resolution at the HRC passed last March by a 23-11 vote, with 13 countries abstaining. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/54982
This was the latest I could find on google news. The Dobbs vid was just after the March resolution. I think the security council has probably vetoed prior resolutions.
[Edited on 10/18/2009 3:27 AM]
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| Oct 18 @ 7:34 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution
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Bj864
Posts: 3,967
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Thanks Lacy for finding a news article that is impartial and explains rather than simply condemning it.
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| Oct 18 @ 9:41 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution |
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southernlass
Posts: 2,240
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One would think Lou Dobbs would be fairly impartial, BJ, as he is an Independent. I've heard him condemn both parties countless times in one evening. Basically this is why I brought it to you all, because I am attempting to figure out how I feel about this, so I wanted everyone to give me their thoughts on the resolution and whether or not they feel that this is something negative that could undermine our first ammendment.
As a Christian, I'm in favor of being protected from religion being attacked, any and all religions -- but I'm not in favor of free speech being curtailed through harming our first ammendment, nor am I in favor of only one religion (Islam) being protected while the others continue to get persecuted verbally and otherwise.
Will this resolution impact what occurs within the United States of America?
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| Oct 18 @ 10:08 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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One would think Lou Dobbs would be fairly impartial
Who signs his pay check?
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| Oct 18 @ 10:13 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution |
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,175
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As a Christian, I'm in favor of being protected from religion being attacked, any and all religions
Religion should be able to stand up to any attack on its own merits. It is people, not ideologies that should be protected by law and government.
Will this resolution impact what occurs within the United States of America?
The US got on the UN Human Rights Committee so that it could influence. Since the resolution was pretty much drafted by the US and approved in the committee by the US, the US will likely not veto it in the Security Council. Because it does not specifically address religious defamation, it may not even pass the General Assembly. If it is passed by the UN, it will likely have some effect on the USA. It may strengthen hate speech laws and bring us closer to having 'thought crimes' and loss of some of our freedoms of speech.
Though the Constitution does not grant any power to the federal government to diminish any of the rights secured by the Constitution, Congress, the president and the Supreme Court have all diminished those rights. Nothing in the Constitution provides that treaties entered into by the federal government can diminish the secured rights either, but I do not feel so secure in the Constitutionally protected rights as I once did. I think there is little difference between a united states government and a united nations. If 50 states can unite, why not the world? If the union of states is preserved through war, why not the union of nation states?
That is definitely not what I want, but I think it is how the world is presently operating.
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| Oct 19 @ 12:54 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution
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Bj864
Posts: 3,967
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One would think Lou Dobbs would be fairly impartial, BJ, as he is an Independent.
Lou Dobbs USED to be fairly impartial. He is NOT anymore. Ever since he got his radio show, he has joined the ranks of the radical. I used to watch him frequently. Now I can't stand him. He has joined up with the people doing everything in their power to bring Obama down.
He doesn't really give us the news anymore. It is all smears and spin now with him.
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| Oct 19 @ 1:45 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution |
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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One would think Lou Dobbs would be fairly impartial
No, I would second BJ's post. Dobbs has walked far away from his old reputation as impartial.
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| Oct 21 @ 10:08 AM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution
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Bj864
Posts: 3,967
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Here it is. The biggest thing I got from it is that they are trying to put some kind of control on hate speech (on the media) because it is incites violence. To me hate speech is taking away from a persons right to practice religion without interference.
I do not believe the media should be able to be used to incite violence against any person, place or thing.
http://www.eyeontheun.org/assets/attachments/documents/7201.doc
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| Oct 30 @ 6:23 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution |
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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As if Moslems need a reason to riot and murder people when the media does the least little thing that they consider offensive. They NEED to become more tolerant of other religions plus there should be a global convention against religious courts having any jurisdiction to impose any death penalty or impose any sentence of mayhem or bodily dismemberment, nor impose any term of imprisonment, nor have power to levy and collect any fine, with limited jurisdiction for all church courts to only discipline a cleric or member to church "in house" activities or community service or expel a member from the faith.
Sharia law is barbaric and no religion should kill people for leaving the church.
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| Oct 30 @ 6:42 PM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution
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arieann
Posts: 2,086
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speaking of Lue Dobs, seems someone is upset with him.
Shots Fired at home of Lou Dobbs!
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| Oct 31 @ 9:47 AM |
United Nations Passes “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Resolution |
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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Law enforcement is apparently not convinced that Lou Dobbs' claims are true. It's hunting season in NJ.
Interviews with the New Jersey State Police yielded a rather different assessment of the events described by Dobbs. In a phone interview conducted yesterday, Sgt. Stephen Jones, a NJ State Police spokesperson, chuckled out loud after he heard about Dobbs' account of the gunfire incident. Jones commented that he "wouldn't classify it [the gunfire incident] as very unusual." He also confirmed that there are hunters in the area, and stated that, "at this time of year hunter [shooting] complaints go up."
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