An Ode on Human Rights

Of the few things in the world that get me worked up, dehumanization of human beings is probably one of the most powerful. The denial of our common humanity and the basic dignity of our fellow human beings lies at the root of some of the most grotesque crimes in history such as The Holocaust. After witnessing the horrific consequences of such industrial-scale dehumanization, all of humanity came together to codify and enshrine what I consider to be the most important document ever produced in the history of human civilization - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Of course, a codification of "moral" values that need to be protected is nothing new. Prima facie, the UDHR might sound suspiciously similar to what dozens of religions have tried to do (with varying degrees of success) - produce a document of moral authority for all humanity. Many religions have risen and fallen with the goal of uniting humanity under the pretext of having codified a bunch of moral values with "divine" legitimacy, albeit without any proof or evidence whatsoever. But I think such religions are almost always the proverbial wolves in sheep's clothing! :) Not one religion was born out of a global, consensus-driven, and inclusive approach, which is exactly what the codification of human rights has achieved. I, for one, think that we do not need any supernatural entities (a God or Gods) to dictate what "morality" should be. Us imperfect human beings are perfectly capable of doing that job! :) All we need is an acceptance of our common humanity, a prevalence of sanity, and evidence-based reasoning to take its course. Hence, I think it is absolutely imperative upon all of us to protect the human rights, not just of our own, but of our fellow human beings as well. As Martin Luther King Jr. put so eloquently, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere! With that prelude, I write an ode on human rights as a tribute to people around the world who still have their human rights denied, and who still suffer dehumanization and discrimination on a daily basis.

They may raze your home in the West Bank,
Using nothing less than a loaded tank.
They may arrest you for being a Kurd,
But your resolve, it will only be stirred!

They may disempower you for being Baloch,
Pretending not to hear all the reproach.
They may silence your voice in Xinjiang,
But you will keep sounding freedom's clang!

They may shoot you down in Kashmir,
And use faux democracy as a veneer.
They may destroy your culture in Tibet,
But your obedience, they will never get!

They may war against you for being Tamil,
Kill the innocent in cold blood, they will.
They may segregate you for being Dalit,
But you will only use it to grow your grit!

They may throw you away for being a girl,
Not knowing that you are very much a pearl.
They may mock you just because you are Black,
But your courage, they can never crack!

They may threaten you for being openly gay,
Ignorant that they will lose the fight one day.
They may have crushed your body in Dachau,
But you knew your spirit will never bow!

Sane words of justice, they may refuse to hear,
But remember, the only thing you lose is your fear.
Indeed, the cause of human rights has no peer,
Stand tall, and the dawn of your day will be near!

- Dedicated to the brave people of Palestine, Kurdistan, Balochistan, Xinjiang, Kashmir, Tibet, and Tamileelam as well as Dalits, Women, Blacks, Gays, and Jews.