“The human rights philosophy affirms an interdependence of persons and an interrelationship of rights existing in such a society. This view requires that we be responsible for one another and responsible to one another. The basis of this responsibility is the bond of solidarity existing among all us who share human existence, recognition of our mutual responsibility, and realization of our common bonds are the basic components of our interdependence.”
Our Quote of the Week reminds us of our interconnectedness and the responsibility we have towards each other as members of one human family. By acting in solidarity with each other and standing up for each other’s rights, regardless of our different backgrounds, we empower and strengthen that family as a whole.
This week, we once again turn to Sargent Shriver’s 1974 Speech at the University of Notre Dame on Civil & Human Rights, a powerful speech that was surely informed by Sargent Shriver’s experiences as Director of the Peace Corps, the War on Poverty, and as US Ambassador to France. Remember, too, that Shriver was an attorney by training, and that his sense of justice shaped his vision of the world and his sense of obligation towards those dealing with injustice.
In the speech, Shriver lucidly lays out the strength and limitations of the founding principles of the United States, and articulates why those principles must apply to the way we operate in the world:
“The legitimate criticism can be made that America’s assessment of rights has been cast more in political than in social or economic terns, but the ideal of judging the political process according to its contribution to the rights and dignity of the person is central to our Constitutional system and to the Civil Rights struggle. The extension of this insight from civil right to the world-wide human rights which include civil rights is what our interdependence now demands.”
Shriver weaves together human rights and civil rights and stresses the importance of exercising justice with spirituality when tackling social issues. He emphasizes the fact that respect for human rights must be universal and must be preserved both within our public institutions and in our private lives.
He then asserts:
” If the United States is to stand as an advocate for human rights abroad, as I think it must, then we must act for civil rights at home.”
With these words, we are reminded of the importance and urgency of protecting the well-being of all members of our human family, wherever they may come from and wherever they may be.
This week, millions around the world are marking Easter and Passover. These holy days prompt us to celebrate human liberation, redemption, and transcendence. Whether you are observing one of these holidays or are simply celebrating the change of seasons, may this period of renewal move you to strengthen the bonds of solidarity with others. May you feel empowered to speak out against injustice and to deepen your connection with other members of our one, human family.
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