Dear Editor,
The letter by Mr Richard Persaud captioned “I do not discriminate against people on the basis of their homosexuality though I consider it unnatural”. (07.12.16) reflects some of the misunderstandings as it applies to human rights and the applications of human rights in the building of societies.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is generally accepted as a set of political norms which humans can expect from their governments and institutions. The principles tend to be addressed to Governments. There are going to be intersections with the interpersonal moral norms in a society especially when governments are called upon to implement laws which would prevent discrimination or other violations.
The question of the relationship between the UDHR and the other ‘higher moral codes’ is brought into play in societies like ours in which there are diverse sets of moral codes and values. The UDHR arose out of the history of rejection of the abuses which took place in the name of many of these supposed higher moral codes – whether Christian sanctioned slavery or apartheid, or persecution of other religions; or the Nazis belief in the superiority of the Aryan race. Some Christian and Muslim religious denominations have rejected the UDHR and its derivatives, while others have endorsed the principles. Some Hindus question the philosophical premise of the UDHR, believing that more emphasis should be placed on the dharma or duty of human beings rather than just being bundles of rights in the moral interpretation of the UDHR.
What do we do then with those issues which conflict with our personal beliefs? Are we willing to accept diversity, not only in physical attributes and characteristics, but also in our thoughts, opinions, religions, beliefs? When do we blur the lines of discrimination to move into acceptance that what might not be right for us is probably right for other people.
Any discussion on human rights, and its application to morals in our society, should start from the premise that we are all born equal in dignity and rights and that we are endowed with reason and conscience. The choice of religion is one of those choices we make in which we accept certain tenets to form our own moral codes. Other people have different religious experiences and views and their moral codes are therefore devised. Thankfully, moral codes are never fixed, as history has shown us when we see that the legislation of some of the most horrific acts of oppression and abuses was denounced. The discussion should continue.
Yours faithfully,
Vidyaratha Kissoon
