What Happpen to Human Rights?

In the United States (US), after the Civil War, the African Americans were faced with many hardships. Some of these hardships faced by African Americans were segregation, racism, and being denied the right to vote. Although these hardships gradually were found to be morally wrong, there are still places in the world where racism and human rights are denied.

One place, in particular, where we see human rights being denied is China. In China there are many minorities that are being denied their human rights such as Muslims, Christians, and Falungong practitioners. In this blog I am going to be focusing on how Falungong practitioners are being treated. Falungong is a new religion that very similar to Buddhism. Falungong has become very popular in China, where about 70 million people practice Falungong. For this reason China felt threatened that Falungong practitioners were going to over throw their government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falun_Gong#1999_and_after_in_mainland_China).

The Chinese government couldn't have been more wrong when it came to their fear of the Falungongs over throwing the government. Before the government denied the Falungongs their human rights, the Falungongs had no problems with the Chinese government and would abide by the rules. A reason the Falungongs would most likely abide by the rules and try not to overthrow the government is the Falungong religion doesn't approve of violence and is very peaceful.

After July 20, 1999, the Chinese said that practicing Falungong was illegal. The Chinese government began to arrest many Falungong practitioners. Although Falungong was illegal, Falungong practitioners didn't find anything wrong with the practice and continued to practice the religion. To object to the government, Falungong practitioners began to protest, but still remained non-violent. These protests were much like the civil rights movement in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falun_Gong#1999_and_after_in_mainland_China).

Although these protests have been going on for about nine years, the Chinese government has not changed and still says practicing Falungong is illegal. Some of the human rights denied from the Falungong practitioners are being thrown in jail without a trail, being sent to work camps, being kidnapped, and being beaten. The practice I find to be the most revolting is removing organs to sell. For instance, in China there are places that remove prisoners' bodily organs and then sell them to make a profit.

A question I ask is how can the Chinese government get away with this? One reason is the U.S. isn't trying to stop these practices. If anything, the U.S. is encouraging China to not change. The U.S. government is partially responsible because the U.S. buys a lot of products made in China. If the U.S. didn't buy as many products from China, then China wouldn't have a reason to produce so many products. This would reduce the need for work camps and less people would have to work against their will. This wouldn't solve the problem, but it would help.

I believe treating people in China this way is a huge problem and the U.S. government needs to help the Chinese citizens, and other places the world, where this is happening. Although we didn't have help to eliminate racism in the U.S., that doesn't mean the U.S. can't help others get their human rights. Just think how much less suffering African Americans would have gone through if the Civil Rights Movement had a strong country supporting the movement.

What is so Bad About Immigrants?

As a teenager I am most affected by migrant workers and immigrants coming into the United States (US). The reason this is true is that a migrant worker and an immigrant is more likely to take a job that I am eligible for than an adult's job. Although a migrant worker and immigrant might be taking my job, I still understand how they are good for the US http://www.immigrationcontrol.com/ImmigrantsTakeTeenJobs.htm.

Some, migrant workers and immigrants will take practically any job they are asked to do. Proof of this opinion would be at an apple farm I visited about a week ago. At this apple farm they hire Jamaicans to pick their apples. Any American worker could do this job, but most American workers would not want to pick apples for ten hours in a day at the price a migrant worker might get paid to do the same thing. The advantage of a migrant worker picking apples rather than an American worker is it keeps the cost of produce down.

Another example of migrant workers and immigrants being good for the US is the hotels industry. I have noticed that most people who are cleaning the hotel rooms are immigrants and migrant workers. This is good for the average American because it keeps the cost of a hotel reservation down. It also makes it easier on the owner because then he or she does not have to worry as much about turning a profit, but is it fair for the immigrants and migrant workers?

I think this system is unfair to the immigrants and migrant workers. I think we could improve this process by changing the law. I think a way to fix this is by evening the playing field. For Example, workers in America should get paid at least minimum wage. The cost to house, feed, and give there necessary needs to immigrants and migrant workers should just be taken out of their wages. Therefore it would cost the same to employ immigrates as it does to employ US citizens.

Although I believe immigrants and migrant workers should be able to work in the US, I think the employment process can be made better and fairer. I think the main way to stop unemployment is for US citizens to stop being lazy and go out and get a job. This comment is not directed to people that have been laid off their jobs unexpectedly.