It's_Our_Duty_to_Fix_the_World

It is our duty to fix the world 1776 is arguably one of the most important dates in recorded history. Why, one may ask' Well, in 1776 the greatest and most powerful nation to date was formed by explorers seeking freedom from oppression. They called this brave new world the United States of America. All though this infant country took some time to mature in to what it is today. It came into being when Thomas Jefferson and 55 other men drafted and proclaimed the “Declaration of Independence” on August 2, 1776. The document described what the founding fathers of our nation desired it to look like. Most notably the rights to “[…] life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But that is not the only important phrase from the declaration it also says “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” This phrase, I believe should be the central focus for shaping our current international relations policy. Although our class textbook Global Politics: a New Introduction seems to disagree with my position. In chapter 20 of the textbook there is a quote “there is actually something wrong with the idea of changing what’s wrong with the world (Edkins and Zehfuss 2009, pg. 498)”.The founding fathers of our nation and I believe, if there is a problem in the world it is our right, even our duty to fix the problem and bring about a solution. Human rights in Iraq during the reign of Saddam Hussein seemed to be completely non-existent. There were high levels of torture, rape, executions, and forced disappearances. The mass of Iraqi people under Saddam were degraded to the likes of expendable insects that infected his empire. Najat Mohammed Haydar, an obstetrician in Baghdad, was beheaded in October 2000 apparently on suspicion of prostitution, according to Amnesty International. “Even by Iraqi standards her execution was an outrage. There was no evidence to support the charge of prostitution and she was reportedly arrested before the introduction of the policy to behead prostitutes” (the Foreign & Commonwealth Office pg. 8). The suspected real reason for her death was her criticism of corruption in the Iraqi health service. Any individual in their right mind would see the absolute horror that this man brought on to people living in Iraq. I am sure the Iraqi people, just like the rest of the world wanted this man to be removed from his position of power. But as our textbook says there would be something actually wrong with even thinking about trying to fix this problem and putting this reign of terror to an end. I think that is absolutely ludicrous! The Iraqi people needed this man dead the only problem was that they did not have the means to rise up themselves and fix the problem. So America along with other allied nations took the burden of removing Saddam Hussein upon their own shoulders. Americans could clearly see the problem that this mad man was facing to his own people and the rest of the world. So it was our right even our duty to invade into Iraq to protect the international community. Few still cling to the idea that humanities actions have no effect on the condition of our climate and delicate ecosystem. I think it would relatively be safe to say that the world is facing a problem of epic proportions. I also submit that the consequences to this problem, if left unchecked, are utter annihilation of the human race. The book outlines a fairly simple explanation for change in climate “Increased burning of fossil fuels puts more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Plants and oceans can’t absorb all this increased volume of gas so it starts to accumulate (Edkins and Zehfuss 2009 pg. 51). As these levels of gas continue to rise, glaciers will continue to melt at an alarming rate rising sea levels and eventually leading to the destruction of our ecosystem. Government leaders from around the world are meeting in Copenhagen this year to discuss possible solutions to this ominous threat. Historically, these meetings have consisted with a lot of talking and promise making but then not delivering on the promises made. The planet cannot and will not tolerate these empty promises any longer. If nothing is done by the bureaucrats then I believe that it is in the hands of the people to throw off these governments that are leading the people like lambs to the slaughter. It is the duty of the people “to provide new guards for their future security” (D.O.I) by making changes to stop climate change. But the quote from the book presented earlier seems to tell us to rather sink with the problems of the world into annihilation. Much time has passed since 1776 and new unforeseen challenges have presented themselves to us. But that should not pervert the very ideals that this great nation was founded upon. Every person has been born with unalienable rights that include among others the right to live. If someone or something is threatening life then it is our duty and our right to mount up against it. If one group is too weak to accomplish the for mentioned then I believe that right and duty is transferred to others who are able to make the necessary changes in order to preserve life. Stepping up to do the right thing has never and will continue to never be a way to make friends out of everyone. I believe that the time is now for America to show that we have a strong backbone and will not tolerate any longer the injustices that plague this work. Let us be the vanguard in the fight to change the world. Bibliography "Iraq Human Rights." Donate by December 31st. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. . Issue brief. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. . Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence” Edkins, Jenny, and Maja Zehfuss. Global Politics. New York, NY: Routledge, 2009. 320-341. Print.