January 19, 2008 - 10:52pm — GreenTeensJessie
Human Rights
What exactly do you think of when you think of human rights? Are you doing anything in your community to protect those close to you, or maybe even far away- in a different country? This is a good place to discuss what you can do to help out with Human Rights, as well as how to get leaders involved in making the social changes we want! Nothing is off limits!
Re: Human Rights
Genocide and massacres have stained our world's history for years. Most people don't know about this, but the Rape of Nanking occured a year before World War II when the Japanese Imperial Army invaded China and marched to the capital (Nanking at the time). Once there, they slaughtered everyone they saw and raped 80,000 women. Still today, even though many Japanese citizens concede the mistakes of their ancestor's actions, the Japanese government refuses to acknowledge the reality of this event even though there have been various testimony from Chinese survivors, former Japanese soldiers, comfort women, and Westeners who tried to save the Chinese (Minnie Vaughtrin who suicided after she returned to America, John Rabe, etc.)
I myself did not know about the Rape of Nanking until a social studies teacher told us about a essay contest concerning whether or not Germany and/or Japan should be admitted into the UN Security council considering their war crimes in the past. Once I did not more research though, I was horrified by the extreme breach of humna rights during this time. Since then, I've written many essays on the Rape of Nanking...hoping that one day, the Japanese government will own up to their past and we can all move on.
For more info on this event, read The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang. It is a powerful book detailing the event in a scholarly manner, yet written in a conversational style. I recommend it to everyone.
Jenny Chen
Editor-in-Chief
JJ Express Magazine
"Life is the biggest bargain - you get it for free!"
Re: Human Rights
Wow, I had no idea how horrible this really was. I have heard just small bits about what has happened, but the statistics you show are mind blowing! This is awful. It would be nice for the government to say that they are sorry for what has gone on. How do you think they should do this? I know that in my English Class this year we are studying American Writing and write now we are reading the Narrative of Fredrick Douglas, which has sparked many discussions in my class about slavery. My teacher told us that several states have issued formal apologies to the ancestors of slaves, for what has happened. Another issues that has come up is Reparations, I guess my teacher has a friend who recieved $40,000 for being in a work camp. Do you think that something like this would help the country move on and act as an apology or would that just allow them to forget what their ancestors did to innocent people.
I think that issues like these are very tough because it isn't as simple as "I'm sorry" you want to move on, but since we learn from the past, we do not want it to be completely forgotton. Hopefully someday problems like these will be solved.
Jessie Mehrhoff
President of Green Teens U.S.A.
greenteens@youngenviros.org
Re: Human Rights
Those were some really insightful comments! www.bkfk.com would really benefit from hearing your ideas about human rights and the ways in which teens can help make the rights of humans better around the world. I would specifically recommend the Advertise Your Cause challenge. Not only is it an opportunity to join a contest, but you will also come into contact with other people who want to do things to help empower people across the globe.
www.BKFK.com
Advertise Your Cause- bkfk.com/aycchallenge
MYOB Entrepreneurial Challenge- bkfk.com/myob
A2Z Animal Challenge- bkfk.com/a2zchallenge
Trash to Treasure- bkfk.com/trashtotreasure