Human rights

With the recent debate about Terri Schiavo, the words "human rights" were often mentioned. A local newspaper featured an article in their religious column. I translated parts of it. Whatever your view is on the Schiavo case, or even your religious views, I think you will find it thought provoking.

http://www.news24.com/Beeld/Rubrieke/0,,3-66_1679153,00.html
(Yolanda Dreyer, Godsdiensaktueel, Beeld, 21 March 2005.)

Laws protect human rights. A law can not force people to see each other and be witnesses of each others sufferings and victories.

In the small world of marriage , people have the power to ignore each other out of their existence. They can kick and hit at each other with words. They can make each other to be a mere object, a convenience for own comfort and pleasure. Someone to overpower.

A marriage partner can withhold the confirmation of your existence, by looking through you, and living pass you.

In the big world out there, people are very busy with each other. They manipulate each other to their own advantage. They get rid of obstacles in their way of their own ideals.

They do not notice that the obstacles…. are people.

In the big world out there, we can talk and act politically correct.

But how we see others, how we give recognition to the existence of others, tell who we are.
A disciple of Jesus does not only propagate human rights.

A disciple of Jesus sees and notices other people.