Editorials need to show both sides

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Source: http://www.success.co.il/knowledge/Portal/Pillar7-Society.html)

by Celia Shortt
edited by Stine Eckert

My editorial dealing with the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, and President of the United States, George W. Bush, would have included a response from President Bush about the accusations leveled against him by President Mugabe. The only statement that resembled a defense from President Bush’s side was, “Bush denies the United States tortures.” Even as a writer of an editorial, I would have tried to show both sides as well as possible and then make a determination from there.

I think that the government has the right to do what it feels necessary to protect its country against outside threats and enemies. I do think, however, that whatever the government should choose to do should be aimed at the actual source of those threats. I believe that innocent people have been hurt and targeted by those tactics. I would also say that some innocent people had their human rights violated by those governmental tactics. If the government is going to go those extremes, they should know exactly who they’re targeting.

I would include these developments of the United States international human rights incidents during President Bush’s terms with all other incidents of the same nature from other countries throughout the world. These actions violated human rights and should be called such. The United States should not be held to any different standard.