 Regardless of race religion or creed. Humans as a creation throughout recorded time and before have been proponents of horrendous acts against one another. Even in civilized society we are suspicious of another's intent. Sadly name-calling and mud slinging is the acceptable norm. As is the instinctual distrust of gifts from warring nations.... Remember Troy? Well from that incident 2 famous sayings have emerged: 1. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. 2. Beware of Greeks baring gifts. Both are the perceptions and opinions of the opposing parties. Each nation has it's own spin-doctors. It is within you the individual to make your own conclusions and impression of the situation drawn from the wealth of "knowledge" at your fingertips. Everyone is entitled to his or her own thoughts and emotions. Luckily most of us able to access this site are in a free society. Free society allows us the right of free speech and self-expression. The declaration of Human Rights entitles all "the rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty." These are a few of my personal favorites: Article 12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, or to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. Article 15. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality. Article 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. This last one is the first article in the Human Rights Declaration and my personal favorite. Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. In the famous words of Shylock (Merchant of Venice ~ William Shakespeare) "If you prick us do we not bleed??"  |