It is a common belief that we are safer than other members of the human race because of where we live and who our neighbors are. The truth is, whatever level of safety we enjoy at the moment there are no guarantees now on which any of us can depend.
We live in a divided nation. By that I mean that there is no value or piece of wisdom that I might express, no matter how well I might express it, that all members of our community will agree is true. And yet the statement I just made is true even though we all live together in this community, in this State, and/or in this Country we call the United States of America.
Even so, I still believe it is possible to say something in public that has the potential to benefit all members of our community--which is to say, all members of our human family -- local, national, and international.
Our institutions, our economy, and our culture are being tested. Many of us earn less money than we used to earn, many families don't have enough money to live a dignified existence, some children go to bed hungry, and some do not have the quality educational opportunities that every child deserves.
How are we going to meet the challenges we face? Is there any human artifact that offers useful guidance when everything else we have tried has failed? I believe there is.
I suggest that you read and have your children read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You can find a copy here. (http://www.gpln.com/udhr.html)
