The American Government Refuses to Support The Rights of People with Disabilities

I bet you have not heard this story on your TV broadcasts or in the local newspaper. The media doesn't often seem to pay attention to people with disability, and since we are the largest minority in the nation, I wonder why that is? But this is serious, really.

In May of this year, the United Nations passed a resolution asking nations to pledge to improve the rights it grantees to its citizens' with disabilities. In the case of nations, like the US, where rights for people with disabilities do exist, the resolution asks that the government pledge not to reverse and seek to protect the rights of its own citizens. THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTION PUT FORWARD BY THE UN IN YEARS!! The American government under the G.W. Bush Administration has refused to sign it. It is true here is a link to a news article: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/04/news/UN-GEN-UN-Disabled-Rights.php

When the resolution was first passed in May I read an article in which an administration official, I believe from the State Department, was quoted as saying that Americans with disabilities had enough rights already--I wish I could find that article now but it has come down off the Web it seems. HMPH . . . Americans don't need it? Is that why the US just passed an revision to the ADA? Is that why 42% of all housing discrimination complaints in the US (to HUD) come from people denied housing and civil rights because of disability? (Thank You Cindy for that fact.)

The UN even went through the trouble of explaining this new resolution to the world using the medium of a children's book specially designed for the purpose. You'd think even America's current administration could comprehend a children's book. But oh wait, that's right . . . weren't they the ones reading "My Pet Goat" while holding the book upside down? Oh Well what can we do? How soon is the election? But seriously this is no joke, its not even funny.

In the meantime, here is what UNICEF had to say about the new UN Resolution on the Right of People with Disability. So don't take my word for it, check it out yourself.



Come November, Please go out and vote for those who will support the rights of people with disabilities and those who will uphold the human rights of all people!