The Ypsilanti daily press., 1945-07-13
The Fundamental Freedoms
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What Is a fundamental freedomi
What is a human right?
The laws OF the United states
running back to Magma Carta and
even to the Witenagemot OF the
Anglo-Saxons define the freedoms
OF the American people. They are
incorporated In the Constitution OF
the United States. The British peo-
pie similarly have no doubts as to
what freedoms are theirs to be
conserved for them In their law
courts. The Chinese people, for
instance. have no such body Of
freedoms, nor have the Russians.
Mr.. Roosevelt once spoke OF four
freedoms--a number hardly notable
as compared with the enormous
number that, English-speaking and
thinking people enjoy. Neyerthe-
less. there are very few countries
indeed in which the people enjoy
his minimum OF four. What part OF
the human race, for instance, at
this moment enjoys freedom OF ex.
pressionH The war in Europe is
over but censorship has hardly
been abated. In fact, II has even
become more malignant because
there are no approaches to the
truth, however remote, In neutral
or any other countries.
So, the San Francisco Charter
deals with fundamental free
doms". II sets up an organ OF in
ternational economic and social
occupation, one OF the objects OF
which is:
Universal respect for. and OBJ
servance OF human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all with
out distinction as to race, sex,
language, or religion" And 1t EN-.
bellishes this formula in Artical
6s.
THE Economic and Social Coun-
ell shall set up commissions In
economic and social fields and for
the promotion OF human rights, and
such other commissions as may be
required for the performance of its
functions"
Again, | ask for definition. What
did those who drafted the San Fran
cisco Charter mean by human
right and fundamental freedoms"
We can, for the moment skip that
part OF race, sex, language or reli-
geon because that is oratory, not
realism. We may assume that the
fundamental freedoms and human
rights" were designed for those
races OF men who are generically
termed civilized. or course, the
Charter does not say that be-
cause the Charter averts compli-
cations by avoiding definitions.
Nevertheless. It would seem that
the Charter might be amended to
include a few definitions. Might |
suggest the following:
No country shall make laws limit
| ing the free exercise OF religion;
or abridging the freedom Of speech
or of the press; or the right OF the
people peaceably to assemble and
TO petition the government for
redress OF grievances.
The right of the people to be Sc
cure in their persons, houses, pa
pers, and effects, against unreason-
able searches and seizures, shall
not be violated, and no warrants
shall issue but upon probable
cause, supported by each or affirm
alton, and particularly describing
the place TO be searched and the
persons or things to be seized.
No person shall be held to answ'
er for a capital or other infamous
crime unless on a presentment or
indictment OF Grand Jury, except
in cases arising in the land or
naval forces, or in the militia, when
in actual service in time OF war
or public danger; nor shall any
person be subject for the same
offense to be twice put in jeopar'
dy Of life or limb; nor shall be
compelled in any criminal case to
| be a witness against himself. nor
be deprived OF life, liberty, or pro-
perty. without due process OF law;