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Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights

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'Ripple of Hope' Speech

Ripples to Waves....

Steven Schmidt, GreenPolicy360 Founder-Siterunner: Over the years I have often been asked about what went into the drafting of the U.S. Green Party's founding platform. As a principal drafter I most always speak of a "rights agenda", that I was (and still am) attempting in my green political work to expand and bring into reality human rights... and civil rights, voting rights, and on and on. The rights that come out of the Age of Enlightenment is one foundation, and looking back we can see a struggle throughout the world, over centuries for basic rights. Clearly, the drafters of the new U.S. were bold when they wrote of "self-evident" truths, of equality and unalienable rights, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were extensions of this, the democratic Republic form of government a light to the world as the French-gift of the Statue of Liberty announced to generations of American immigrants.

Eleanor Roosevelt is a star in this constellation. Today she might be called an "influencer", and as President Roosevelt's inspiring force of will power who brought her profound contributions into political reality, helping create and shaping what became known as the "New Deal" that continues on to this day, Eleanor's personal story continues up close and personal here.

Let me explain:

Eleanor 'mentored' a political student named Allard Lowenstein -- and Al Lowenstein went on to a "Never Stop Running" career that included famed words in a speech that has come to be known as the "Ripple of Hope" speech. It was a speech given by Robert Kennedy in South Africa and it called for human rights, freedom and liberty.

• https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/06/30/197342656/looking-back-rfks-ripple-of-hope-speech-in-south-africa

Let's look more closely now, 50+ years later...

In a ride to a campaign event in the 1970s, Al told me about the speech given in South Africa by "Bobby". The original draft was not strong enough, Al said, and the Kennedy team brought him in to "revise and extend" the words and confront the apartheid, rights-denying government. He added to the draft of writers Adam Walinksky and Richard Goodwin. Allard added a vision of what could be, that we all, each of us together can create waves for our rights, civil rights, minority rights. Al's speechwriting and speech giving were also Rooseveltian, Eleanor Roosevelt was a force in Lowenstein's life and work, and only passed away a few years before the speech.

They carried forward, they were ripples and waves, they made a difference that even now carries on and on.

When we at GreenPolicy360 speak of ripples becoming waves, we are tipping our green caps to those who've inspired and acted boldly, envisioning shared rights across all cultures, communities, and nations. We are speaking for quality of life and hope.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt and the Human Rights Agenda

• https://www2.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/lesson-plans/notes-er-and-womens-movement.cfm

• https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/eleanor-roosevelt/

Women's Rights / Human Rights Activists

Eliminating All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women%27s_rights_activists

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