# so, do you know what holiday today is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 1999, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939 "1999-12-10T17:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 1999, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/1 "1999-12-10T17:56:00Z")
Today (10 December) is Human Rights Day, chosen because it marks the signing of the **Universal Declaration of Human Rights** by the U.N. General Assembly, Resolution 217 A (III), on 10 December 1948, in San Francisco. To commemorate this day, I invite anyone to post their favourite article from the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights](http://www.web.amnesty.org/web/aboutai.nsf/5451236ceac8ca36802567750034ca9a/b5bffd26c5cc90568025677f004edc9a?OpenDocument). (click on the link to see the articles of the UDHR.) Here’s my choice (picked because I’m posting from work ☹ ) **\Article 24 \** Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/2 "1999-12-11T06:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS > Last updated : 28/05/99 > > * * * > > A m n e s t y . I n t e r n a t i o n a l > A B O U T > > UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS > Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948 > > Preamble > > Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, > Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, > Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, > Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations, > Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedoms, > Whereas member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, > Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge, > > Now therefore: The General Assembly > Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. > > Article 1 > > All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. > > Article 2 > > 1. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. > 2. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. > > Article 3 > > Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. > > Article 4 > > No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. > > Article 5 > > No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. > > Article 6 > > Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law. > > Article 7 > > All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. > > Article 8 > > Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law. > > Article 9 > > No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. > > Article 10 > > Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him. > > Article 11 > > 1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. > 2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed. > > Article 12 > > No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. I like to think we still value honour, even in these Jerry Springer days. * * * The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/3 "1999-12-11T06:49:00Z")
sorry - I thought I copied only article 12! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/4 "1999-12-11T06:52:00Z")
here i thought it was Arnold Winklereid Day! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 1999, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/5 "1999-12-10T23:12:00Z")
talk about serendipity…last week I talked about Amnesty International in my English class, and each of my students chose an Appeal and wrote a letter about it. We mailed the letters to the various heads of state today! And I hadn’t even realized that today was the Declaration’s anniversary. I think I just love the Declaration as a whole…and I think it’s absolutely shameful that the US, one of the countries responsible for the writing of the Declaration, has yet to ratify it. But then, our country has never been quick to legalize things like that. Jefferson wanted to abolish slavery in the Constitution, but it took about a hundred years to actually get in there, and a hundred more for civil rights to come up. And don’t _even_ get me started on rights for women. This concludes this rant of the Kara’s Broadcast System. We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. * * * Lyxdesics of the lowrd untie! ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 1999, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/6 "1999-12-10T23:27:00Z")
Oh, great, now I’ve got to go out an buy a Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day tree, and mail out my Universal Declaration of Rights Day cards. Like the holidays aren’t stressful enough already. Does anyone know any good Universal Declaration of Rights Day carols? ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/7 "1999-12-11T00:42:00Z")
Is this the treaty that the Congress still hasn’t ratified? God, if it is, I’m embarrassed to live here. * * * _ **SanibelMan** _ - [My Homepage](http://members.macconnect.com/~jonkleinow/) “Step away from the bell curve, sir.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/8 "1999-12-11T00:45:00Z")
Now you know why I moved off the continent… ---
**Author:** ![Momotaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Momotaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Momotaro)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/9 "1999-12-11T01:53:00Z")
This begs the question: What commercial interests does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights threaten? Or is it just politics? Anyone got the answer to that one? * * * Only humans commit inhuman acts. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/10 "1999-12-11T06:10:00Z")
You want to talk about rights? Now [these people](http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/law/r100000_.html) were very grateful to enjoy all the rights guaranteed and accorded to them. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/11 "1999-12-11T08:03:00Z")
**Kara** , congratulations. You’re a credit to your profession. As a longtime Amnesty International member, I’m happy to see that people take the trouble to write letters concerning prisoner cases. I think the treat(ies) you were referring to, that hasn’t been ratified yet, would be: [Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women](http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/) Convention Against Torture [Convention on the Rights of the Child](http://www.amnestyusa.org/children/crn_crc.htm) **Momotaro** : The reason some international human rights treaties haven’t been ratified by the USA is due in part to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jesse Helms. He thinks that the UN shouldn’t be telling the USA what to do. **Mjollnir** , I’m not sure what point you were trying to make when you included a link to the soviet constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/12 "1999-12-11T12:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Article 24 > Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. You mean we actually do have a right to party? I thought the Beastie Boys just made that up. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/13 "1999-12-11T12:41:00Z")
No, actually, as I recall, you don’t have a RIGHT to party. You gotta FIGHT, for your RIGHT, to party. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-know-what-holiday-today-is/11939/14 "1999-12-11T20:59:00Z")
I agree with Jesse Helms on that matter. I provided a link to the Soviet Constitution to show how the pointlessness of a paper “guaranteeing” rights. Even our (US’s) own Constitution is pretty much meaningless, except for what the Supreme Court says it says.