Recently President Biden made moral statements that contradict. I’m not sure he realized it or how many other people noticed. In responding to the alleged human rights crisis happening in China, he was both critical of China and also defended them. These alleged atrocities raise awareness regarding the source of human rights. The source of morality transcends each society, which makes God the best explanation. NEWS
There are approximately 12 million Uighurs – a group of people living in northwest China.[1] According to recent reports, the Chinese government is committing atrocities against them. 1. Former U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said:
“I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state.”[2]
2. Current U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken agreed with his predecessor:
"My judgment remains that genocide was committed against – against the Uighurs and that – that hasn't changed,"[3]
China denies these allegations, claiming they are countering terrorism and extremism.[4]
So what did President Biden say? He offered various comments regarding the alleged atrocities, including two contradicting ideas.
One portion of President Biden’s words were critical of China’s policies. In the following quote, he says it will be hard for China to be a world leader if they are violating human:
“As long as they are engaged in activity that is contrary to basic human rights, it is going to be hard for them to do that,”[5] (emphasis added)
President Biden admits they are violating basic human rights. But he also seemed to defend them by saying they have different cultural norms.
“So I am not going to speak out against what he is doing in Hong Kong, what he is doing with the Uighurs in the western mountains of China, Taiwan and One China policy by making it forceful, and he gets it. Culturally there are different norms in each country and their leaders are expected to follow"[6] (emphasis added)
Consider how the ideas in these quotes contradict. The first quote defends the notion that there are basic human rights, meaning they deserve to be treated with certain rights just for being a human being. The second quote promotes the idea the each culture is different and they determine moral norms.
Certainly every society has cultural norms. That’s not in dispute. The problem is you cannot say a particular behavior violates a basic human right and is also acceptable due to cultural norms. Which one wins when they conflict? When basic human rights are pitted against cultural norms, one of them must win out.
What is an example of human rights trumping a cultural norm? There was a time when slavery was accepted as normal in the U.S., but this was rightly abolished in the name of basic human rights.
We may debate what conduct actually qualifies as basic human rights, but some are obvious; and once they are agreed upon, you cannot justify violations as cultural norms. With all due respect President Biden cannot say China is engaged in activity contrary to human rights, but then justify it as cultural norms. Those moral statements are contradictory.
RELIGION
Virtually everyone recognizes the existence of basic human rights. People have intrinsic value; and it is not based on their physical makeup. All people, regardless of what they look like, are equally valuable.
Think about that. All people are equally valuable. What is the basis for this value?
In order to have a moral standard that infuses equal human value to all, the source must transcend humankind. This is because if people decided who was valuable, then one society could dispute basic human rights and commit genocide, and they would not be wrong. But this is NOT correct - it violates our moral intuition. We recognize that all people have human value; and we condemn societies that violate human rights.
Where do these rights come from?
As the U.S. Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...” According to our founding fathers, human rights come from God.
This is also the view of Christianity. Jesus said that people are valuable; in fact, they are more valuable than animals.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(Matthew 10:29-31 NIV)
Notice that Jesus says that God cares for animals, so they are valuable; however, Jesus also says that people are more valuable than animals. This is because we are made in the image of God.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NIV)
Again, we are not simply our physical bodies. We have a soul. (What are the reasons to believe we have a soul?)
God provides the basis for basic human rights. We can trust Jesus and the words of the Bible, because there are good reasons to believe that Jesus is God and the Bible is divinely inspired.
Summary Point:
Basic human rights come from our Creator – God.
[1]https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037 [2]https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037 [3]https://www.businessinsider.com/antony-blinken-agrees-china-uighur-genocide-pompeo-designation-2021-1 [4]https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037 [5]https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-china/biden-says-china-to-face-repercussions-on-human-rights-idUSKBN2AH0AC?il=0 [6]https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/us-news/uighur-genocide-a-cultural-norm-biden-faces-backlash-for-not-asking-china-to-own-up.html
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