I recently read former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s book Fascism: A Warning. I found the book to be thought-provoking and informative. I appreciated Albright’s historical overview of the rise and fall of dictators, as well as her concerns about despotic leaders presently in power. Sad to say, there are many.
One characteristic of autocrats is a disregard of human rights. Related to this, Albright writes: “The real question is: who has the responsibility to uphold human rights? The answer to that is: everyone.” At one level, of course, books such as Albright’s emphasize the importance of laws being enacted that protect each person’s rights and of a judicial system that upholds those laws. These are essential to safeguarding citizens’ rights.
When I read Albright’s statement “The answer to that is: everyone,” in addition to viewing it from a systems standpoint, I also thought about it on an individual level. The ways that each of us interact with others, the causes that we care about and put time and effort into supporting, and the many choices we make each day that affect other people also add to the quality of human rights. My experience and the reading I’ve done have shown me that many aspects of Jungian psychological theory add meaning and purpose to life, and therefore I often view things through a Jungian lens. Basing our words and actions on that which we discern through inner direction not only adds to our consciousness and personal growth, but also enhances the lives of those with whom we come into contact. I believe this type of genuine interaction can certainly be considered another way of honoring human rights.