I've heard many talking heads on the cable networks decrying the fact that Donald Trump did not make human rights a big topic in his discussions with dictator Kim Jong-Un. My first thought was to wonder if the United States, under the Trump administration, has the moral authority to challenge other countries on the issue of human rights.Donald Trump has made it very clear that he doesn't care about human rights. He only cares about corporate profits and cutting taxes on the rich. The rights of ordinary people to be treated decently means nothing to him, and his administration shows that by:
* refusing to stop the indiscriminate murder of Black citizens by police.
* asking for the punishment of citizens who use their right to free speech.
* refusing to provide decent and adequate of health care for millions of people.
* separating children from their immigrant parents at the border, and housing those children in cages. A clear violation of international law and common decency.
* refusing to make sure that all citizens have to right to vote.
* continuing to jail thousands of people (who have hurt no one) for drug possession.
* encouraging businesses to discriminate (using religion as an excuse).
* promoting an expansion of use of the death penalty.
* refusing to act to guarantee the constitutional rights of women, minorities, and the LGBT community to their equal treatment under the law.
* refusing to accept refugees (especially muslims) into this country -- even from countries where our actions created those refugees.
* refusing to deal with an epidemic of gun violence that claims over 30,000 lives a year.
* promotes harsher treatment by the justice system, even though we already have 25% of the world's prison population (and only 3% of the world's population).
* endorses the torture of prisoners held by U.S. forces.
* Just this week, Trump and Attorney General Sessions declared that refugees fleeing violent gangs and very abusive spouses would no longer be accepted in to this country. They will be deported, where it is highly likely they will be killed.
Does North Korea have a long and continuing history of atrocious human rights violations? Of course it does. But does Trump have the moral authority to even broach that subject with any nation? I think not. He needs to demonstrate he cares about human rights first.
