# Fuck respecting cultural differences! Basic human rights are real! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 1, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460 "2010-06-01T04:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/21 "2010-06-01T13:27:18Z")
We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/22 "2010-06-01T13:38:34Z")
Good thing we’re in Afghanistan to right all of these wrongs. Any day now everything is going to be peachy over there. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/23 "2010-06-01T13:55:33Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Unless you’re hooked into that god fix I don’t see how one can even speak about universal human rights without collapsing in laughter. Are these rights inscribed on golden plates beyond the veil? Do we need seer stones to decrypt them? I hold them to be self-evident. > [@marshmallow](#): > > Whether he meant to or not, Bricker shatters the concept of human rights in a single line right here. How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/24 "2010-06-01T14:07:58Z")
Apparently if one right isn’t universal then none of them can be. Funny, that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/25 "2010-06-01T14:21:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Apparently if one right isn’t universal then none of them can be. Funny, that. Well it is universal, just like the mother’s right to control her own body. Fist swinging rights always end at the nose. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/26 "2010-06-01T14:23:29Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. Oh my god, Ann Coulter posts to the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/27 "2010-06-01T14:44:30Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. > [@Kyla](#): > > Oh my god, Ann Coulter posts to the SDMB. Tsk. Ann Coulter would never say anything like that. :rolleyes: It’d be, “we should invade their leaders, kill everybody, and convert the ones we missed to Christianity.” Possibly followed by, “it’s what Jesus would do.” > [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Well it is universal, just like the mother’s right to control her own body. Fist swinging rights always end at the nose. In some cases, it appears rights end at the balls. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/28 "2010-06-01T14:53:07Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I think certain areas of the world could be bombed into oblivion and the human race would be none the worse for it. I have an idea. Let’s bomb Afghanistan. > [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. Aha! This one’s got it! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/29 "2010-06-01T15:12:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In some cases, it appears rights end at the balls. Exactly, my right to swing fists ends at your balls and other people’s uteruses. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/30 "2010-06-01T16:24:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But let’s not go crazy and add basic human rights for unborn women, ok? Or little altar boys who don’t want to be raped by priests, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/31 "2010-06-01T16:33:29Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Unless the OP has some personal investment in this incident the rant is discolored by her anger. I like the OP and have for many years but suggesting obliterating many innocents does not make for a higher ground as stated below: > Also I’d need to see a cite that it is women that bear the brunt of mankinds cruelty. > > That said, yes the linked story is awful and women in that part of the world are generally treated as second class citizens. My remark about bombing was the expression of my pit-level feelings, not a rational great debate suggestion. As for women being the brunt, I did that thread sometime in the last few years. I believe it was something about John Lennon being right: woman is the nigger of the world. It was a great debate. And thanks for the likage. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/32 "2010-06-01T16:34:53Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Congratulations, you have taken a stand against moral relativism. How original. It would really be more accurate to say that I have taken a stand against absolute moral relativism - I’m with Lissener. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/33 "2010-06-01T16:38:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But let’s not go crazy and add basic human rights for unborn women, ok? You’re perfectly entitled to save all the unborn fetuses you want–but you have to gestate them yourself. You don’t get to use adult women as incubators. So, how’s that surgery to implant a fetus into your peritoneum going? Have you picked out a name yet? And how many more poor, pitiful unborn fetuses are you planning on hosting? At least one per year, right–unless you’re going for twins? Oh, you aren’t planning on doing that? You aren’t even planning on adopting five or six unwanted already born babies? Then you don’t get a vote. Fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/34 "2010-06-01T17:08:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Most anthropologists and sociologists would agree. I don’t think any agree that all cultures are equal, just that there should be as little judgment as possible when studying them. Some things should be judged, and harshly. I see this as one of those things. Not that it will happen, these apparenlty were local warlords and mullahs (?) and it was the police that helped them in “recovering” the girls. In short, they can do whatever they please. There is ummmm, one charming cultural custom that could apply, but I don’t see it happening - the custom of vendetta or blood feud, where a family member takes revenge in the name of those relatives who can’t do it themselves. What? it’s just a cultural thing. Why judge? (tongue in cheek). ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/35 "2010-06-01T17:13:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Tsk. Ann Coulter would never say anything like that. :rolleyes: > > It’d be, “we should invade their leaders, kill everybody, and convert the ones we missed to Christianity.” Possibly followed by, “it’s what Jesus would do.” Would that be before, or after we rape the cattle and stampede the women? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/36 "2010-06-01T17:14:19Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > You’re perfectly entitled to save all the unborn fetuses you want–but you have to gestate them yourself. You don’t get to use adult women as incubators. So, how’s that surgery to implant a fetus into your peritoneum going? Have you picked out a name yet? And how many more poor, pitiful unborn fetuses are you planning on hosting? At least one per year, right–unless you’re going for twins? > > Oh, you aren’t planning on doing that? You aren’t even planning on adopting five or six unwanted already born babies? Then you don’t get a vote. Fuck off. Yeah, unless the penis-owning person bitching about abortion is busy adopting or otherwise caring for the unwanted children already in the world, I write off their concern for the unborn as concern about losing the one surefire way men always counted on for keeping women in line. But they don’t really need to worry too much, women like it, so they’ll always do it, and it will always temper the social, financial, political and other non-family based power gains that women make in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/37 "2010-06-01T17:46:15Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But let’s not go crazy and add basic human rights for unborn women, ok? The Jainist religion argues that all animals, including microscopic insects, have a basic right to life. Do you argue, along with the Jainists, that animals have basic rights? If not, why not? And, if not, why should others go along with your argument on basic rights, which is based on a religious belief just like that of the Jainists? Why ought we as humans be bound to the beliefs of, not a religion, but a specific, conservative subset of a religion when not all humans are part of that religion? ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/38 "2010-06-01T17:52:03Z")
This thread is now about abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/39 "2010-06-01T17:54:19Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Yeah, unless the penis-owning person bitching about abortion is busy adopting or otherwise caring for the unwanted children already in the world, I write off their concern for the unborn as concern about losing the one surefire way men always counted on for keeping women in line. Yeah, and I write this off as a long-winded way of saying “Shut up, man who doesn’t agree with me”, because it’s not like the availability of adopters has a great deal to do with the putative right to abortion; as I’m sure many would argue - and many \*have \*argued, right here - that it’s iniquitous to expect a woman to continue with an unwanted pregnancy even if there’s a good home awaiting the infant the instant it falls out of her crotch. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460/40 "2010-06-01T17:57:33Z")
Are there really any cultural relativists in the world? It certainly isn’t anything I’ve ever encountered in my liberal, academic background, or heard about from my liberal, social worker wife with her undergrad degree in Anthropology. I never heard it defended in the Anthropology or Sociology courses I took in college, I’ve never heard it defended by politicians of any stripe or even casually by personal aquaintances. The only time I’ve heard anything close is from Fundamentalist Biblical apologists making excuses for Old Testament atrocities. The idea that cultural relativism is some sacred tenant of political liberalism (or that the sentiment even exists at _all_ among liberals) is, I think, complete mythology. It was western feminists who were decrying the Taliban long before conservatives ever cared, and it’s liberals who have always condemned female genital mutilation, violent homophobia and other 'cultural" human rights abuses across the world. Who are these alleged liberal defenders of “cultural relativism” anyway? Can anyone name a prominent one? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-respecting-cultural-differences-basic-human-rights-are-real/541460.md?page=3)