by Wade Rubinstein, CCHRC member
Six people are killed in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin by a white supremacist. Their crime? Gathering to worship. (See www.cnn.com/2012/08/05/us/wisconsin-templeshooting/index.html)
Malala Yousafzai, a 14 year old girl in Pakistan, is shot on a school bus by the Taliban. Her crime? Speaking out on the basic rights of girls to gain an education. (See www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57535863/malala-yousafzai-awakehas-stood-up-doctors-say/)
These recent tragedies highlight the fact that there is work to be done to promote human rights and understanding. When a violation of human rights occurs, in our community or in our world, we can’t remain silent.
Here are three things you can do to promote human rights and help heal the world:
Talk with your children, friends, and neighbors about the importance of human rights.
Write a letter to the editor in the local paper condemning violations of human rights.
To write a letter to the Concord Journal, please email your letter, up to 300 words, with your name, address and day time phone number to concord@wickedlocal.com by noon on Monday for that Thursday’s paper.
Write a letter to the victim(s) expressing empathy.
Sikh Temple of Wisconsin 7512 South Howell avenue, Oak Creek, WI 53154 malala Yousafzai Birmingham Council House Victoria Square Birmingham, UK B1 1BB – or – ‘For Malala’ c/o Pakistan Consulate Birmingham 2-26 Constitution Hill Hockley, Birmingham, UK B19 3LY
Remember the words of the philosopher George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Please join us in strengthening human rights in our community and around the world.