JLooney.com

8 years ago today I took a massive step forward in an amazing and beautiful journey. I became a father. And unlike most father-son relationships, my son chose me to be his father.

Let me back up a bit for those who may not know this story.

When I first met Megan in 1995, her son Stefahn was 6 years old. He and I kinda hit it off right away, playing with Little People pirate ships and castles, creating epic battles, and just enjoying each others company.

Megan’s divorce from her husband was not a pleasant one. In the most neutral terms possible, he was very unpleasant person, and found every way he could to twist and exploit the child visitation arrangement in the divorce decree. There’s no need to go into further detail here, other than to mention that neither Megan nor I ever spoke a negative word about him in Stefahn’s presence. We consciously worked at being absolutely neutral in any conversation involving him or about him.

Nevertheless, Stefahn made it clear as he spent more and more time with this man that he wanted it less and less. When Stefahn was 10 years old, he came home from 6 weeks of summer visitation and stated flatly “I’m never going back there again” the moment he walked in the door. Megan and I knew the shit-storm that could create, but we both felt strongly that Stefahn was plenty old enough to make this decision about his own life, and we would support him in whatever decision he made.

After several months of no contact from him, Megan received a call. He wanted to pick Stefahn up for visitation. Megan told him that wasn’t an option because Stefahn didn’t want to go. He said some truly ugly things to Megan, and the call ended. As the three of us cried and held each other, Megan and I decided we needed to seek the counsel of an attorney and find out what our options were. Did we have to send Stefahn, even though he didn’t want to go and was afraid of this man?

We met with an attorney who told us that although the visitation decree was explicit, there’s no way in hell he would send his child with someone they didn’t want to go with. He counseled us to do what we felt was right, and he would do his best as an attorney to protect our little family.

A week or so later, Stefahn received a call. It was him, and he said he was coming to get Stefahn. He said it didn’t matter what Stefahn wanted because the law said he had to come, and that he should stop listening to all the nasty things Megan was saying about him.

What happened next remains to this day a beautiful amalgamation of emotions. Stefahn boldly told this man that he wanted him to sign papers so that I could adopt him. Megan and I were stunned. This was not an idea that had ever been discussed or even imagined. I am, to this day, indescribably proud of Stefahn for taking that stand, honored and humbled that he chose me, and overwhelmed with joy that he wanted to be mine.

As soon as the phone was hung up, we talked about what had just happened and what we needed to do. We met with our attorney the next day and set in motion legally what Stefahn had begun in words and action the night before.

There was, predictably and understandably, plenty of resistance on the other end. I am so very grateful for a skilled attorney with a passion for his clients who finally made it possible. After a long conversation between the two of them, papers were sent, signed and notarized relinquishing parental rights and opening the door for me to adopt Stefahn.

Once the door had been opened, things happened pretty smoothly and quickly. The only thing that didn’t go as planned happened in the judge’s chambers as he was about to sign the document that would make Stefahn my son legally. Stefahn interrupted the judge and asked if he could add my name as one of his middle names. The judge was happy to oblige, and Stefahn became SRJL.

I don’t know that Stefahn and I have ever had what someone would call a traditional father/son relationship. He’s never called me dad – that term feels foreign and untrue to both of us. He calls me Bird, or just J. Megan is a far better parent than I am, and Stefahn and I both acknowledge that. We’ve got an interesting family dynamic to be sure. Megan does 99% of the parenting, and I’m there when either of them needs something outside of that realm. A costume for a school event? Yep, that’s my deal. How to watch movies on his laptop? I got this. An epic make-up job transforming him into mini-Maul for the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I? You guessed it. He knows that when he needs something, I’m here to help him out and support him.

I am grateful for the teacher he is to me, and the man he is becoming. I suppose that sounds a bit odd, the child being the teacher, but it’s true. He is one of my greatest teachers, and not just how to coach little league football. We may not have an easily definable relationship, but this much I know – I love him and he loves me. What more could I possibly want?

I was in Vegas last weekend, and although it was a quick weekend trip, it was nice. I didn’t see any shows. I didn’t gamble. I did eat at In-N-Out burgers several times, though. But my favorite thing about the trip? Driving in Vegas.

I like driving in Las Vegas.

It’s true. You can ask Megan.

Now, I’m sure that, like her, most of you think I’m crazy, but hear me out on this and I think you’ll see my point, and perhaps even be inspired to drive a bit the next time you’re there.

Standard Disclaimer
Before I get too far into this, let me just acknowledge that everything I’m about to share with you is strictly my own opinion, and is based on nothing more than my experiences, judgments and stereotypes. I’m acutely aware of all this, but I still think there a good deal of truth to this. Also, I’m going to do my best to keep this from turning into a rant on Utah drivers. Anyone who’s spent more than 5 minutes around me knows how I feel about that subject, so there’s no need to elevate my already-to-high blood pressure by going down that road (no pun intended).

First, let’s start with what it’s like to drive in Utah, but Salt Lake City in particular.

Let’s start with my stereotypes of Utah drivers
Utah drivers, by and large, are dumb panicky animals. They don’t plan ahead in their driving, having drifted into some docile, bovine state of semi-consciousness behind the wheel. As a result of this self-imposed idiocy, they routinely cut across all lanes of traffic to make a turn or take an exit ramp to get to their just-remembered destination at the very last second, thereby endangering other motorists not only through their dangerously inept maneuvers, but also by causing slowing in the traffic matrix due to anti-collision reactions of swerving and hard braking by other motorists.

Utah drivers are arrogant and entitled, seeming to believe that red lights apply to everyone else but them, that not crossing a double line is merely a suggestion, and that whatever aggressive/illegal measure must be taken to get to their destination even 15 seconds sooner are perfectly warranted, as their journey is infinitely more important than stupid little things like common sense, courtesy and respect, and the comparable importance of anyone else’s safety. And don’t even get me started on merging. Utahn’s seem to think that you don’t need to be travelling at freeway speed until you’re actually ON the freeway – the on ramp is simply another road to be travelled at 35 mph, and immediately cutting over in front of a car doing even a reasonable 65 mph results in slammed brakes and traffic congestion, all because one idiot has no concept of how to merge with existing traffic flow.

Utah drivers also get vicious when prodded or cornered, just like a normally pleasant dog that’s been harassed just a bit too long by the children-owners, and snaps at one of them with a growl. Little old ladies giving the finger when you pass them because they’re doing 55 down I-15 in the far left lane, soccer moms with a van full of kids screaming obscenities at you through the window as they make a left turn through a just-turned-red light as you’re trying to (legally) proceed through your light which is now green, and businessmen slamming on their brakes to get you to slow down and give them some room after they’ve just squeezed into the barely-large-enough space between you and the car in front of you because they felt some indefinable need to wedge themselves in the 15 feet of space between the two of you, rather than behind you where there’s a good 600 yards of open lane.

It’s like these people are frustrated with their own incompetence on the road and feel a need to take it out on everyone else with aggressive driving, profanities and finger gestures.

Anyway, starting to get into rant territory there. Now let’s talk about Las Vegas drivers.

And how are Las Vegas drivers any different?
Whether you’re driving on the strip or on the freeway, I’ve had the same experience with Vegas drivers – they know where they are going and they are absolutely determined to get there in the most efficient and reasonable way possible.

Lane changes happen smoothly, and typically when there’s plenty of room in front of, and behind them.

Drivers start accelerating at the bottom of the onramp as they’re getting on the freeway, making merging a non-issue.

Drivers plan well ahead, and are in the appropriate lane to make turns and exit freeways.

There’s rarely any anger or aggression displayed, and drivers are typically courteous, slowing slightly when the driver in front of them signals to enter their lane, or even changing lanes to allow faster traffic to pass.

This is not to say that Vegas drivers are a bunch of pansies – far from it! They do drive fast, and if you hesitate (like most Utah drivers whenever making any sort of decision on the road), they’ll just as soon blow past you as wait for you to make up your feeble little mind about which street to turn on.

The bottom line is that Vegas drivers know where they’re going and how to get there, and they do it. Period.

I like driving there, because I feel like I fit in.

My sweetheart has this thing for shoes, men’s shoes in particular.

She buys them for me because she loves the shoes and she loves me. Over the years, I’ve received some mighty fine shoes, usually just because it’s a Tuesday.

One of the very first pairs she bought me was a sweet pair of Mezlans. I was a little shocked at how expensive they were, I mean, who pays $400 for shoes? What I’ve learned about shoes, though, is that the expensive ones are worht it – they’re more comfortable and they last longer. After 13 years, I still have those Mezlans, and I’ve worn them well past the time most other shoes I’ve worn in my life would have expired.

Well, Megan’s always wanted me to have a pair of Johnston & Murphys, which are pretty much the pinnacle of shoe perfection. I mean, they’re just a hair this side of John Lobb, and they’re excellent shoes. So the other day, she came home with these beauties. They’re gorgeous, and I love them.

Now I just need to get an outfit that warrants shoes this obscenely beautiful, and take my sweetheart out for a night on the town befitting such an outfit. Although, truth be told, a night of such caliber would be meaningless without my sweetheart by my side. Whether she buys me shoes or not, she’s pretty amazing.

But I’ll keep taking the shoes, too.

A little while back I went on what can only be described in retrospect as an epic rant of comedic proportions. In the interest of restoring the karmic balance, I feel it only right to gush over a few really cool things that I just dig.

Ritz-Carlton Service

There’s something to be said for outstanding service, and The Ritz-Carlton is legendary for their level of catering to a guests every whim, many times before they even know they want something. Here’s just a few personal examples:

On our first anniversary I took Megan to The Ritz-Carlton in Boston, the very first Ritz-Carlton in the US. At the time I was employed with the company, so I got the room for $50 a night which is obscenely cheap (the room we stayed in went for $550 a night normally). Although it was a magical trip, there are two things about the hotel that stand out in my memory.

One of the highlights of staying at the Ritz-Carlton Boston is the antique elevators and the friendly elevator operators. When I say antique, I mean the kind with two sliding brass gates (one on the elevator car itself, and the other just opposite on each floor) and a rotary handle that moves the car up and down depending on which direction it’s rotated. Now, I don’t know if it’s a job requirement for the position of elevator operator, but each of the three elevator operators (there are only three elevators, and I only ever saw the same three operators, one for each car, regardless of the hour) were african-american with french accents. Now I’d been to the Boston hotel a few months earlier for work, and had gotten to know one of the operators, Coco, as I always just happened to be in his elevator. After checking in and getting our room assigned, Megan and I happened to step into Coco’s elevator. “Good afternoon, Mr. Looney. How have you been? It’s been some time wince we’ve seen you here. And who is this lovely woman you are with?” The questions came rapidly, but in a warm and friendly manner, like lost friends reunited.

When we got to the room, Megan asked me to go get a bucket of ice. I looked all over the little map in the binder, but couldn’t find an ice machine on it, so I called the front desk to ask them where it was located. “I’ll have some sent up right away!” replied the friendly woman on the other end of the line. When I thanked her, she replied, very warmly and sincerely, with the Ritz-Carlton standard acknowledgement “it’s my pleasure”, and she meant it.

Within 2 minutes there was a knock on our door. I figured it was the ice, but was completely taken off guard and pleasantly surprised by what showed up. A gentleman in a tuxedo and white gloves with a white towel over one arm stood at the doorway with a cart. On the cart, which was covered by a pristine white linen tablecloth, was a massive and intricately detailed and decorated silver bowl filled to the brim with ice, a large silver ladle that matched the bowl lay alongside it, and on the other side of the bowl was a bud vase with a single  red rosebud. Evidently used to my reaction of open-mouthed stunned silence, the gentleman quickly wheeled the cart inside. As soon as he had crossed the threshold back into the hall, he pivoted smartly on one heel, held the arm with the towel at a perfect 90 degree angle, with the other relaxed at his side, bowed slightly, and asked if there was anything else I may be in need of. When I managed to stammer that we didn’t need anything else, he made another small bow and disappeared down the hall. Megan and I just stared at each other and the massive silver bowl of ice in the middle of our room and burst into a fit of giggling. And that was only the beginning of the trip.

On another trip, this time a business orientation at the Naples, Florida resort (rated the #2 hotel in the world by Conde Nast), I was again overwhelmed and more than pleasantly surprised by the level of service I received. Now seeing as how we were travelling in late August, stepping outside the carefully climate-controlled environment of the airport in Florida was like having a hot wet blanket thrown over your head. It was hard to breath, my clothes were sticking to me, I had just gotten off a 4 hour flight from SLC, and sweat was running off my head and down my back. I was NOT happy. The hotel is about an hour and a half from the airport, so we still had more travel time before I could strip down and cool off. At least the shuttle van was air conditioned, and did a pretty good job of keeping us cool. When we arrived at the hotel (which was gorgeous), I made an off-hand remark about how damn hot and muggy it was as I was stepping out of the cool van and onto the driveway. I grabbed my luggage from the back of the van and headed inside to more air conditioning. No sooner had I set foot inside the door than a man in a white short sleeve shirt pressed with a razor-sharp crease, white shorts, and knee-high white socks stepped forward with a silver platter (no shit, it really was a silver-effing-platter) with a bottle of ice water that was already starting to sweat and a cool damp towel. “for you, sir. Perhaps it will ease the unbearable heat and make you more comfortable.” He said as I took both the towel and the water from him. Now, lest you think this was routine, I am the only one of our group of 20 that received this treatment.

I made a comment. They heard me, and did something about it before I even knew what I wanted.

That, my friends, is service.

Food Network

I LOVE the Food Network. It makes me hungry. Every time. It doesn’t even matter what show is on or what they’re cooking, it makes me hungry. And it makes me want to cook, which Megan loves. It’s pretty much a win/win. And you know, who woulda thunk, way back in 1993 that a television network devoted entirely to food would actually be a viable business model? And there’s TONS of stuff to dig about Food Network. A few of my favorites are the fact that I get to learn about food and how it’s prepared, I get to find new establishments to add to my Culinary Tour of America list, and many of the shows are just plain entertaining.

One of my current favorites is “What Would Brian Boitano Make?”, and yes, the theme song is exactly what you expect it to be. And who knew Brian Boitano was funny?

Guy Fieri is another favorite, especially his “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” show. He’s even been to Utah a few times, visiting some of may favorite places (Red Iguana, Moochie’s), reminding me to visit otehrs I enjoy (Burger Bar, Lone Star Taqueria) and giving me ideas for new places to go (Blue Plate Diner). And he’s just plain fun to watch.

One of the best things about Food Network is that if you see something that looks tasty, you can jump on their website and usually find a recipe.

Ridiculously fast Internet

A few years back, as some of you may recall, there was a big hubbub about some proposal to use tax dollars to fund a community open-source high-speed internet infrastructure across the Wasatch Front. Some towns opted in, others decided it wasn’t a good idea. I’m glad that my city leaders didn’t have their heads in the sand and had the foresight to see how cool this could be. Murray city opted in to the Utopia Network, and as a result, I have ridiculously fast internet.

How fast?

Well, here’s a little analogy to demonstrate: Imagine that dial-up speed is like watching a dripping faucet, and typical DSL speeds are like a drinking fountain. What’s considered “High-Speed Internet” by most cable companies, like Comcast, is like a garden hose, and my Internet is pretty much like opening a fire hydrant full-bore. I can download a 100-minute movie in full HD in just minutes.

In fact, when Megan started her new job a few months back, she came home after the first couple days and told me there was something wrong with her computer. I asked her what the problem was, and she told me that the Internet was running super slow. Once we determined that it ran super slow only at the office, she gained a new appreciation for just how fast our Internet is. For you geeks out there who can appreciate this, I have a fiber-optic cable coming directly into my house.

My Internet pretty much rocks, and it’s faster than about 60% of the developed countries in the world have AT THEIR ABSOLUTE FASTEST SPEED.

The best part? I pay $50 a month for it.

So that’s my list for now, hopefully the balance of karma has been restored so I can be free to rant and bitch again. I was starting to miss it, and I’m sure you were, too.

9-11, Human Rights and The Role of Government
James Ord

Last night I was confronted by both, a friend who posited that government has become too intrusive by creating a society dependent upon government to provide for it, and a young lady who called me a liberal and told me that my ideas about government were going to destroy our country.

I’ve been taught by a wise woman that when ever I’m confronted like that, instead of kicking back, I get to soak in that person’s feedback and ask myself to name three ways in which the accusation is true. The nature of this exercises brings clarity, and openness and usually releases me from any tunnel vision that I might be momentarily caught up in.

I let my mind think for a while and rest on the notions of what these two said to me. I think it was an excellent jumping off point to sit back, and get some clarity. . .

Today is September 11th 2009.

Eight years ago terrorists took over several planes flying over the United states. Two planes crashed into the two tallest office towers in Manhattan, NY. Shortly afterward another plane crashed into the headquarters for the US War Department in Washington D.C. Within minutes of that third crash, the United States Air Foce, acting on order of the Vice President, shot down the the 4th plane into a field in Pennsylvania. This was done to avoid the plane hitting a township when the American hostages on board bravely attempted a seemingly unsuccessful coup to regain control of the airship.

We’ve heard A LOT of rhetoric about perpetrators of these crimes, of their motives, of their ideology, of their backgrounds etc. My personal opinion is that this was a crime against humanity. A crime against the human rights of all of us.

But given the accusations of last night. I had to ask myself WHAT DO I BELIEVE ABOUT GOVERNMENT?

My background is steeped in government. I come from a military family, both of my grandfathers were lifers. Every Ord in my line has worn a uniform since the 1880’s, myself included. I worked side by side with several congressmen on both sides of the isle before I ever graduated high school. I went to prep school at the U.S. Air Force Academy. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Government Admin and International Relations (heavy on the Econ), from one of the most conservative universities in the United States. I hold a degree in Law from one of its most Conservative Law Schools, which is also a constitutional law “powerhouse,” I have spent the vast majority of my life connected to and working in government and the DOD. So, I may have something to say on the topic. But what do I believe about government?

I’ve read the works of the great theorists of the ages, and I’ve come to the clear conclusion that Government exists to secure the Universal Human Rights of its citizens, and inhabitants.

But what are those universal human rights?

The Americans summed them up as Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness, the French, as liberté, égalité, fraternité, but just where are these nebulous human rights summed up and enumerated?

After World War II, one of my greatest heroes spent most of 1948 chairing a gathering of the world’s then established governments to create a world consensus on what are the universal human rights of all people. From their notes, it is evident that the committee was not attempting to beholden humans strictly to positive law, but was seeking to enumerate natural law, and bind governments, via moral pressure and moral mandate, to respecting those principles, laws, and rights that were granted us by our maker. The resultant universal declaration of human rights succinctly summarises them.

Since we seldom actually read those rights, I’m going to include them herein. They are 30 statements on what your rights are as a human. Governments exist solely for the purpose of securing these rights for you and your fellow humans. There are multiple theories a to how that gets to happen, and how much of that labour is your responsibility, but in all cases it is the government’s job to defend these rights from any that would infringe upon them, for the sake of all humans under that government’s jurisdiction.

And with that here are our basic rights:

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
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. 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.

Article 13
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including their own, and to return to their country.

Article 14
1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15
1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16
1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17
1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in their country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27
1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29
1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Now I don’t know about you, but for me, these simple declarations of my INALIENABLE rights as a human being give me great comfort. They provide a standard to which I can hold my government. To which I can hold myself, to which I can hold my neighbours.

I am a product of the American system. I have been raised with the notion that there is in fact a social contract between governments and their citizens. That the citizens make up the government, and give it the power to conduct the business of the people. That the business of the people, the responsibility of government, is to insure the above rights are not trampled by other people, nor by corporations and businesses, nor by non-governmental organisations, nor by other governments. In turn, citizens have the duty to make sure their rights are not trampled by government. It is a relationship of checks and balances.

And it came to pass that government, in the United States, eschewed its responsibilities in defending these, the people’s, rights against those who would infringe upon them. The infringers have used all manner of secret combinations, including but not limited to, corporate shields, religious shields, and a host of legal loopholes, and most importantly a game of, misinformation, and hide the ball, worthy of praise from the best first year torts professor.

And so we find ourselves in the land of the free, and home of the brave, with freedom being eroded, and few who seem brave enough to be a stand for our rights, nor dare to wage a war against those that would impinge upon those same rights, which rights were equally endowed within each of us, individually and collectively, by our creator.

At the end of the day, I am a stand for these declarations of human rights, and I live by them, and when they are trampled I fight to restore them and restore the balance that protects them. I do this in in the interest of all of us, because in when it comes to human rights, your interest is also my interest.