By David
Brooks, August 18, 2015
This past
weekend, [on August 14], the government of Barack Obama celebrated restoration
of diplomatic relations with Cuba with a message of continued
support for a democratic future and an improved human rights situation on the
island.
Meanwhile at home, news crops up that should be generating serious concern about the future of democracy in the United States. Former President Jimmy Carter declared that this country is ‘an oligarchy with unlimited political bribery.’ Human rights defenders and even the United Nations organization are denouncing serious abuses of civil and human rights. Policies there threaten freedom of expression and the rights to privacy and free association (labor unions included). They have the biggest prison population in the world, and there is official sanction for the use of torture and for disappearing people, all in violation of international law. On the one hand basic rights are eroding, voting rights included, and on the other data on economic inequality are without precedent since before the great depression.
Meanwhile at home, news crops up that should be generating serious concern about the future of democracy in the United States. Former President Jimmy Carter declared that this country is ‘an oligarchy with unlimited political bribery.’ Human rights defenders and even the United Nations organization are denouncing serious abuses of civil and human rights. Policies there threaten freedom of expression and the rights to privacy and free association (labor unions included). They have the biggest prison population in the world, and there is official sanction for the use of torture and for disappearing people, all in violation of international law. On the one hand basic rights are eroding, voting rights included, and on the other data on economic inequality are without precedent since before the great depression.
Perhaps now
is the time to ask other countries and other activists in the world for
support, assistance, and even intervention (unarmed) in order to promote a
peaceful transition to democracy in the United States.
It seems, however, that the script for expressing such a message of “support” and international commitment to promoting democracy and rights in the United States already exists and says something like:
“We are in the business of assuring that the U.S. people have freedom and the capacity to participate and to shape their own destiny and their own lives.” And, “our objective [is] to empower [U.S.] Americans for building an open and democratic country.”
It seems, however, that the script for expressing such a message of “support” and international commitment to promoting democracy and rights in the United States already exists and says something like:
“We are in the business of assuring that the U.S. people have freedom and the capacity to participate and to shape their own destiny and their own lives.” And, “our objective [is] to empower [U.S.] Americans for building an open and democratic country.”
“No [U.S.] American should face harassment or arrest or beatings simply because they're exercising a universal right to have their voices heard, and we will continue to support civil society there …” (It’s worth remembering that in the past year, as U.S. authorities offered violent reaction to the wave of protest following events in Ferguson, [Missouri,] the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, called upon those in charge in the United States to guarantee protection of rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression.)
Likewise, “we continue to believe that [U.S.] American workers should be free to form unions, just as their citizens should be free to participate in the political process.”
A spokesperson continues: “[T]hrough a policy of engagement, we can more effectively stand up for our values and help the [U.S.] American people help themselves as they move into the 21st century. We are calling on the United States to unleash the potential of … millions of [U.S.] Americans by ending unnecessary restrictions on their political, social, and economic activities.”
A series of
actions would be announced that offer “continued strong support for the sake of
improved human rights conditions and democratic reforms in the United
States. The promotion of democracy supports universal human rights by
empowering civil society and a person’s right to speak freely, peacefully
assemble, and associate, and by supporting the ability of people to freely
determine their future…”
And, “with
this change, we will be able to substantially increase our contacts with the
U.S. people. … And our diplomats will have the ability to engage
more broadly throughout that country. That will include the U.S. government,
civil society, and ordinary [U.S.] Americans — who are looking for a better
life. On issues of common interest …We will find new ways to cooperate with the
United States. And I’ve been clear that we will also continue to have
some very serious differences. That includes enduring support for
universal values, like freedom of speech and assembly. … And we will not
hesitate to speak out when we see actions that contradict those
values.”(1)
While it was
affirmed that self-determination would be respected and “that the future of the
United States now has to be shaped by its own citizens, there was a warning
that supervision will be maintained over ‘democratic principles’ and
‘democratic reforms’ in the United States.”
According
to a speaker, “We remain convinced the people of the United States would be
best served by genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their
leaders, express their ideas, practice their faith; where the commitment to
economic and social justice is realized more fully; where institutions are
answerable to those they serve.” (2)
These public
declarations would be consistent with democratization programs, among them the
funding of various dissident organizations in order to create new channels of struggle
in defense of human and civil rights inside the country. These would involve
support offered to U.S. activists and defenders of human rights as they present
cases of human and civil rights violations before the United Nations and the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and support also for their
participation in training workshops aimed at improving their capacity to
document cases and allowing them to share experiences with counterparts. These
programs would promote consensus and cooperation among democratically-inclined
U.S. activists, would open up access to uncensored information for ordinary
citizens, and would defend “the rights of African-Americans and
underrepresented communities…” (3)
In the declarations and official descriptions cited here, one word has been substituted for another. The words “Cuba” and “Cubans” are replaced with “United States” or “[U.S.] Americans.” The first footnote number in the text refers to official statements on Cuba issued by President Barack Obama or the White House from December 17, 2014, on. The second footnote number relates Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks in Havana on August 14, 2015. The third one points to part of the text describing in general those programs funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and directed at Cuba.
In the declarations and official descriptions cited here, one word has been substituted for another. The words “Cuba” and “Cubans” are replaced with “United States” or “[U.S.] Americans.” The first footnote number in the text refers to official statements on Cuba issued by President Barack Obama or the White House from December 17, 2014, on. The second footnote number relates Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks in Havana on August 14, 2015. The third one points to part of the text describing in general those programs funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and directed at Cuba.
Thus is
confirmed the proverb: “Let the good judge begin at home.”
David Brooks has served as U.S. correspondent for the Mexico City daily
newspaper La Jornada since 1992. He is the author of several scholarly works
and founder and coordinator of the Mexico – U.S. Diálogos Program.
Source: La Jornada