Hey guys! I really need help, I am trying to relate these two cases to describe how being poor raises the importance of Human Rights. However I feel like I am making no sense. Please help me I am not good at writing.
Question: Relate Paul Farmer's arguments to one or more of the rights spelled out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. How might viewing human rights "from the point of view of the poor" alter our perception of these rights? Are Paul Farmer's claims about how we should be analyzing these rights convincing?
Paul Farmer uses Pathologies of Power to emphasize the importance of human rights in areas that suffer from poverty. Farmer reveals the ineffectiveness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by using life stories of people who are deprived of these basic necessary rights. If these rights were enforced it would have prevented many deaths. No matter what background you come from these rights belong to all and are necessary in one's life. Farmer uses the stories of Chouchou, and Acephie, natives from Haiti to demonstrate how they became targets for a life without basic human rights since the day they were born. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, does not fully reach its effectiveness to the poor because of the limitations they have due to their environment, and government. Structural Violence highlights the necessity to enforce articles nineteen, twenty-five, and twenty six in order to break the cycle the poor face.
In many countries government officials often violate the right to freedom of speech, article nineteen, Chouchou is treated unfairly due to a comment he made around a soldier. Chouchou made a simple comment regarding the structure of the streets, "If things were as they should be, these roads would have been repaired already" (Farmer 37). This comment did not involve Aristide's name; however, it was viewed as a comment against the government therefore Chouchou was severely punished. He was arrested and beaten harshly and was pursued until his death. One would never think that this simple comment would provoke your death. The only places that this happens in is where the government is corrupt and threatens the safety of their own people. Farmer brings the argument that most people who live in poverty are deprived of their rights, "And when we look at and listen to those whose rights are being trampled, we see how political rights are intertwined with social and economic rights, or, rather how the absence of social and economic power empties political rights of their substance" (Farmer 18). From Chouchou's point of view, these rights to be strengthened for the sake of his safety and many others like him. He understands the importance because he is surrounded by the danger of not being able to give an opinion without suffering from the consequences. Someone's economic status influences the importance of the execution of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
An example Farmer gives is the story of Acephie, a girl born in Haiti who suffered from the violation of the rights guaranteed in article twenty-five and article twenty-six. Article twenty-five from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family[...]" Acephie's family was moved from their home to a new location due to the construction of a dam without any consent. This affected them by worsening their living conditions; unfortunately there was nothing they could do since this was forced upon them. Article twenty-five exists, yet many people in poverty do not enjoy the benefits unlike others that live in better conditions. Another violation of rights that Acephie experienced was article twenty-six, the right to have an appropriate education. Acephie unfortunately stopped receiving adequate education when she was only nineteen. Even though she stayed in school until she was nineteen she only learned up to elementary level. If Acephie had been better educated, she could have made different decisions later in her life, which could have avoided her death. Education is important to all yet some countries see it useless to their society; however, they are not the ones to decide since we all have the right to receive education. The reason education in not seen as important in some countries is because children at young age have to help their families economically. Children often start working at a young age, and do not have the chance to stay in school like others do. Acephie unfortunately did not get to experience sufficient education since her living conditions prohibited it due to her having to work at a young age to help support her mother. Acephie unfortunately was later diagnosed with AIDS which led to her death from not having adequate living conditions. She went through a harsh life; however, she serves as a voice to see what others go through. Until the end she did not want to accept she had AIDS because she believed she had been cursed. Which if she had been educated; she would have known how to be cautious to lower the risk of her obtaining AIDS. To fully comprehend and acknowledge the significance of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights one must grasp it "[...] from the point of view of the poor" (Farmer 18).
Both Chouchou and Acephie are victims of the ineptitude of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in underprivileged countries. To Chouchou and Acephie article nineteen twenty-five and twenty-six if enforced would have saved their lives. Farmer convinces us that the people who are not surrounded by poverty view these rights different to others. Privileged people do not take these rights seriously since they do not have the need too, because their lacks of knowledge of certain conditions people live in. It shows how poverty heightens the awareness to support these rights and how they are necessary no matter the economic status one is in.
Question: Relate Paul Farmer's arguments to one or more of the rights spelled out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. How might viewing human rights "from the point of view of the poor" alter our perception of these rights? Are Paul Farmer's claims about how we should be analyzing these rights convincing?
Our Perception due to Poverty
Paul Farmer uses Pathologies of Power to emphasize the importance of human rights in areas that suffer from poverty. Farmer reveals the ineffectiveness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by using life stories of people who are deprived of these basic necessary rights. If these rights were enforced it would have prevented many deaths. No matter what background you come from these rights belong to all and are necessary in one's life. Farmer uses the stories of Chouchou, and Acephie, natives from Haiti to demonstrate how they became targets for a life without basic human rights since the day they were born. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, does not fully reach its effectiveness to the poor because of the limitations they have due to their environment, and government. Structural Violence highlights the necessity to enforce articles nineteen, twenty-five, and twenty six in order to break the cycle the poor face.
In many countries government officials often violate the right to freedom of speech, article nineteen, Chouchou is treated unfairly due to a comment he made around a soldier. Chouchou made a simple comment regarding the structure of the streets, "If things were as they should be, these roads would have been repaired already" (Farmer 37). This comment did not involve Aristide's name; however, it was viewed as a comment against the government therefore Chouchou was severely punished. He was arrested and beaten harshly and was pursued until his death. One would never think that this simple comment would provoke your death. The only places that this happens in is where the government is corrupt and threatens the safety of their own people. Farmer brings the argument that most people who live in poverty are deprived of their rights, "And when we look at and listen to those whose rights are being trampled, we see how political rights are intertwined with social and economic rights, or, rather how the absence of social and economic power empties political rights of their substance" (Farmer 18). From Chouchou's point of view, these rights to be strengthened for the sake of his safety and many others like him. He understands the importance because he is surrounded by the danger of not being able to give an opinion without suffering from the consequences. Someone's economic status influences the importance of the execution of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
An example Farmer gives is the story of Acephie, a girl born in Haiti who suffered from the violation of the rights guaranteed in article twenty-five and article twenty-six. Article twenty-five from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family[...]" Acephie's family was moved from their home to a new location due to the construction of a dam without any consent. This affected them by worsening their living conditions; unfortunately there was nothing they could do since this was forced upon them. Article twenty-five exists, yet many people in poverty do not enjoy the benefits unlike others that live in better conditions. Another violation of rights that Acephie experienced was article twenty-six, the right to have an appropriate education. Acephie unfortunately stopped receiving adequate education when she was only nineteen. Even though she stayed in school until she was nineteen she only learned up to elementary level. If Acephie had been better educated, she could have made different decisions later in her life, which could have avoided her death. Education is important to all yet some countries see it useless to their society; however, they are not the ones to decide since we all have the right to receive education. The reason education in not seen as important in some countries is because children at young age have to help their families economically. Children often start working at a young age, and do not have the chance to stay in school like others do. Acephie unfortunately did not get to experience sufficient education since her living conditions prohibited it due to her having to work at a young age to help support her mother. Acephie unfortunately was later diagnosed with AIDS which led to her death from not having adequate living conditions. She went through a harsh life; however, she serves as a voice to see what others go through. Until the end she did not want to accept she had AIDS because she believed she had been cursed. Which if she had been educated; she would have known how to be cautious to lower the risk of her obtaining AIDS. To fully comprehend and acknowledge the significance of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights one must grasp it "[...] from the point of view of the poor" (Farmer 18).
Both Chouchou and Acephie are victims of the ineptitude of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in underprivileged countries. To Chouchou and Acephie article nineteen twenty-five and twenty-six if enforced would have saved their lives. Farmer convinces us that the people who are not surrounded by poverty view these rights different to others. Privileged people do not take these rights seriously since they do not have the need too, because their lacks of knowledge of certain conditions people live in. It shows how poverty heightens the awareness to support these rights and how they are necessary no matter the economic status one is in.
