The Emerson Avenger Observes International Human Rights Day
As part of observing International Human Rights Day today I am reposting this post that I made in Beliefnet UU Challenge and Critique a few years ago.
In my 'Disruptive Behavior' thread I said -
If it is perfectly acceptable to solicit people to sign Amnesty International petitions and to hand out other letters and pamphlets etc. about human rights abuses during "Coffee Hour" why is it not acceptable to distribute letters of grievance about internal human rights abuses at the same time? Other than hypocritical double
standards of course...
"ChaliceChick" responded -
What human rights abuse? The UDHR is here:
http://www.un.org/rights/50/decla.htm
Where was it violated? I mean, you may think that your situation is as bad as a torture victim's but you've got understand that many people won't see it that way.
Here is my response to CCs' challenge...
Here we go CC...
As promised, you will find below the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights interspersed with my commentary contained in brackets showing how UUs have flagrantly disregarded or clearly violated numerous articles of the UDHR within the context of the UU religious community.
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be
disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
(I dare say that maybe the UUA would do well to see to it that every UU congregation has a copy of the UDHA displayed for its members to see. The UUA, its Ministerial Fellowship Committee, and the congregation of the Unitarian "Church" of Montreal could benefit considerably from refamiliarizing themselves with the ideals expounded in the UDHR...)
PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
(I'm still waiting for UUs to show some recognition of my own inherent dignity to say nothing of the inherent dignity of other God believing people in general and Christians in particular... I and other UUs have yet to benefit from equal and inalienable rights within the pathetically dysfunctional UU family. It is abundantly evident that UUs have willfully and flagrantly undermined freedom, justice, and
peace within the UU religious community in terms of this particular conflict but no doubt UUs have done this in many other ways...)
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the commonpeople,
(UUs have displayed disregard and contempt for my human rights. Rev. Ray Drennan's abusive clergy misconduct and subsequent UU injustices and abuses could justifiably be described as "barbarous acts" and they have outraged the conscience of some members of humankind... not the least of them my conscience. Sadly, as I have previously remarked most of the UUs I know seem to confuse freedom OF conscience with freedom FROM conscience... UUs have clearly infringed in my ability to "enjoy freedom of speech and belief" to say nothing of "freedom from fear and want"...)
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
(Because UUs have abjectly failed, indeed obstinately refused... to ensure that my own and other people's human rights are protected by UU "rule of law" I have been compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to a certain amount of rebellion against UU tyranny and oppression...)
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
(UUs have failed miserably to promote the development of friendly relations with me to say nothing of many other God believing people...)
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
(Too bad UUs can't manage to walk this talk...)
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
(Regrettably many of the UUs that I know display little respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms with respect to me and other people...)
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
(I agree. A common understanding of these rights and freedoms by UUs is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge by UUs...)
Now, Therefore,
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
proclaims
THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
(I can't say that UUs "strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures secure their effective recognition and observance by UUs. Of course I could say the same thing about the "covenants" expressed in the Seven Principles and other UU empty promises and hypocritical posturing...)
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.
(Rev. Ray Drennan and a whole lot of other UUs have failed miserably to act towards me 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.
(Rev. Ray Drennan and other UUs have infringed on my liberty and even my 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.
N/A
Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
(I have been subjected to what could rightly be described as moderate to considerable psychological torture by Rev. Ray Drennan and other UUs. Having my religious beliefs repeatedly ridiculed by Rev. Drennan and other anti-religious UUs is degrading treatment. Being labeled as "psychotic" "a nutcase" "crazy" "sick prick" "delusional" "suffering from a personality disorder" etc. etc. etc. is degrading treatment. Having Creation Day falsely labeled as a "cult" by Rev. Ray Drennan, Frank Green, John Inder (both past Presidents of the UCM Board) and other UUs is not only degrading it seriously infringes on my religious freedom. The "kangaroo court" cum special congregational meeting and various other unjust punishments by UUs would be seen as being quite humiliating and degrading by most people.)
Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
(Sometimes I wonder if I have the right to recognition as a person before UUs... Much of the demeaning and abusive labeling serves to dehumanize me and thus deny me a person...)
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.
(I was by no means equal before "UU law" I was most certainly discriminated against in UU "legal" processes as is clear just in terms of the MFC letters. Not only did I receive virtually no protection from the abusive clergy misconduct of Rev. Ray Drennan but I was repeatedly punished for complaining about it while Rev. Ray Drennan has never been held accountable for his abusive clergy misconduct. There is more that I could add in terms of wider UU discrimination and unjust and unequitable (to say nothing of uncompassionate) treatment of me but the foregoing should be sufficient in terms of illustrating how UU have violated my human rights within the context of the UU religious community.)
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.
(I have yet to receive an "effective remedy" by "competent" UU tribunals for the acts of Rev. Ray Drennan and other UUs that are clearly violating the fundamental rights granted me by the UU "constitution" (i.e. Seven Principles) or UU "law" (i.e. UUMA Guidelines and Code of Professional Practice) In fact some of my mistreatment by UUs may well violate the provisions of the Canadian constitution and Canadian law. UUs are skating on very thin ice by charging me under a criminal law that is clearly meant to prevent disruption of an actual church service when I am peacefully and usually quite quietly protesting out of sight and out of earshot of the UCM's sanctuary. I may well challenge these charges on constitutional grounds if my case ever gets heard that is...)
Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
(I put it to you that I was repeatedly subjected to "arbitrary arrest" in terms of internal UU sanctions and punishments. I put it to you that my "exile" from the Unitarian Church of Montreal is unjust, unequitable, uncompassionate and in many ways quite "arbitrary"... Even my arrest on trumped up "public nuisance" charges might fit the "arbitrary arrrest" provisions here. Maybe I should look into that... Certainly the sworn testimony of UUs that finally persuaded the police to arrest me, after they had repeatedly told church members that I had a constitutional right to protest, is full of half truths and whole lies that may well constitute perjury...)
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.
(I put it to you that I have not been treated with "full equality" under UU "law". I have yet to receive a "fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial UU tribunal in the determinition of my rights" in terms of my grievances. The "kangaroo court" cum special congregational meeting in which I defended myself against the trumped up "criminal charges" that were brought against me by the UCM's Board was very "public" but it was far from "independent", far from impartial and far from fair. In fact it was a carefully maniputed process that was heavily biased in favor of the "church" and I was essentially treated as though I was "guilty until proven innocent".
These and other UUs still have a "guilty until proven innocent" attitude but of course they dare not provide a "fair and public hearing" where I could prove my innocence to say nothing of Rev. Ray Drennan's guilt...)
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.
(Ah well there we go... In terms of the "penal offences" that I was accused with in the UCM's "kangaroo court" I was in fact presumed guilty and given very little fair chance to prove my innocence. In fact I was cut off before I could respond to the third and most serious of the three "charges" that they brought against me. I had few guarantees necessary for my defence but I can assure you that these UUs did everything they could in terms of manipulating the process to guarantee that I would be expelled by the congregation.)
(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.
(Actually my first six month expulsion from the UCM, ostensibly for writing one more letter to the Board than they wanted to throw in their recycling bin, can readily be seen as my being "held guilty" of a "penal offence" on account of an act which did not constitute a "penal offence" under UCM "law" at the time when it was committed...
The same might be said about my subsequent temporary expulsions for picketing the "church". You may recall that the chair of the UCM's "Stalinistic" Disruptive Behavior Committee told me loudly and clearly that they did not care if I did handed out my letters off of church property (which is exactly what I was doing when I was first expelled for six months...) and he even specifically said that they did not care if I picketed the church. Yet I was subsequently temporarily expelled for a year when I began picketing and this year long expulsion was extended by a further six months. An examination of the "penalties" that I was subjected to will show that the UCM repeatedly changed their own rules in the middle of the "game" to suit their unjust, unequitable, and uncompassionate purposes...
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.
(Seems to me that Rev. Ray Drennan's abusive clergy misconduct as I have previously described it clearly constitutes "attacks" upon my "honour and reputation"... Yet to this very day I have received absolutely no protection whatsoever from UU "law" against Rev. Ray Drennan's demeaning and abusive attacks on me.)
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 his own, and to return to his country.
(Well this may be stretching the above a bit but, just to make a point, my freedom of "movement" within the borders of the Unitarian Church of Montreal was repeatedly restricted... There is no provision for my "return" to the Unitarian Church of Montreal. Indeed I should mention that there was no provision for any appeal of my expulsion from the UCM...
Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
Well I do have the right to seek and enjoy asylum from UU persecution
in other UU congregations.
(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.
(I dare say that my "crimes" against hypocritical UUs are in fact quite "political"... Of course they have everything to do with exposing and denouncing Rev. Ray Drennan's and other UUs' anti-religious and abusive acts that are contrary to the purported purposes and principles of the UUA to say nothing of the UUMA Guidelines and Code of Professional Practice)
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.
(Again this might be stretching this clause a bit but I have been quite unjustly and arbitrarily deprived of my "citizenship" in the Unitarian Church of Montreal...)
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.
N/A
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
N/A
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.
Hmmm... I seem to recall having been "arbitrarily deprived" of some picket signs... In fact various UUs have at various times "arbitrarily deprived" me of my picket signs but all of them, except retired Queen's Counsel lawyer Kenneth Howard QC (who really should have known better...), had the good sense to return them to me when I made it clear that I would file theft charges against them.
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.
(I dare say that within the context of UUism this article of the IDHR has been flagrantly and repeatedly violated by Rev. Ray Drennan and many other UUs. I will spare you the details for now as they should be obvious to all but the most DIM Thinking UUs.)
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.
(UUs have in fact repeatedly censored or suppressed my freedom of opinion and expression. They have repeatedly interfered with my ability to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media.)
Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(Within the context of the Unitarian Church of Montreal my own freedom of peaceful assembly and association was infringed when the UCM's Board arbitrarily and unjustly banned Creation Day from being celebrated on church property even though it had been unanimously approved by the RE committee as an adult RE activity. Imight add that the meeting was both a secretive and manipulative perversion of the democratic process... Previously Frank Green, while the UCM's President, had arbitrarily and unilaterally prevented me from starting a group to discuss spirituality because "some people might think that you're trying to start a movement within the church..." He later made a "joke" insinuating a link between Creation Day and the notorious Solar Temple cult while I was organizing the first Creation Day in the fall of 1994. I was later informed that Frank Green had repeatedly labeled Creation day as a "cult" but had had the political astuteness to do so behind my back...)
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
God forbid that anyone should be compelled to join the Unitarian Universalist Association...
Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(I never tried to get on the Board of the Unitarian Church of Montreal but I am sure that if I had tried to do so they would have found ways to make it difficult or impossible for me to do so. I should have been allowed to be present at the October 1994 UCM Board meeting in order to answer questions about Creation Day and respond to any objections. I was barred from the totally secretive and quite manipulative "in camera" segment of this meeting in which they banned Creation Day from being celebrated on "church" property. Less than a month later Rev. Ray Drennan was labeling Creation Day as "your cult" to my face... Need I say more?)
(2) Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
(It seems to me that I did not have equal access to the "public service" of the UCM...)
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this 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.
(Some, even much, UU "democracy" is a pathetic sham that in no way parallels normal political processes. Many UU "elections" are far from "genuine" and the "suffrage" is neither universal nor equal.)
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.
(I think that I could reasonably argue that the UCM's anti-democratic banning of Creation Day, to say nothing of Rev. Ray Drennan's and other UUs' more serious demeaning and abusive treatment of me, infringed on my entitlement to "realize" my own and others' "cultural rights" that are "indispensable" for my own and others' dignity and the free development of my own and others' 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.
N/A but... I was arbitrarily passed over (discriminated against) by Frank Green when the UCM needed to replace its caretaker, even though I really could have used the job at the time and had previously filled in for the caretaker when he took a few weeks holiday in Europe. In fact, the caretaker recommended me to replace him and I had made it clear to the church secretary that I was ready, willing and able to replace him. Of course this had nothing to to with Frank Green's suspicious minded labeling of Creation Day as a "cult" etc.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
N/A
(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.
N/A
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
N/A However... The repeated malicious interference of UUs in my religious activities, including but not limited to my efforts to establish Creation Day as a legitimate inter-religious event sponsored by the UU religious community, has clear parallels to union-busting dirty tricks...
Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
(Well I get plenty of "leisure" picketing the UCM...)
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.
N/A
(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.
N/A
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.
N/A However, by banning Creation Day the UCM denied some UUs and non-UUs the right to participate in Religious Education on their property...
(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.
The Unitarian Church of Montreal and indeed the greater UU "religious community" have indirectly made a mockery of this article in terms of how they have treated me. Creation Day most certainly promoted understanding, tolerance, and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups but these UUs banned it and did whatever they could to destroy my ability to promote Creation Day by labeling it as a "cult"...
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
N/A
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.
(Seems to me that I did not, and still do not, have the right to freely and fully participate in the "cultural life" of the UU community, or to share in its religious advancement and 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.
It is possible that by labeling Creation Day as a "cult" etc. that UUs have infringed on my moral rights in terms of Creation Day but this is not certain.
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.
(As should be quite evident by, the "social order" of the UU religious community has in fact clearly infringed on the basic rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration of Human Rights. Far from seeing to it that they are "fully realized" within the UU religious community UUs have in fact repeatedly made a complete mockery of some of these rights and freedoms...)
Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
I put it to you that Rev. Ray Drennan, Rev. Diane Miller and many other UUs have been quite derelict in their duties to the UU religious community. As a direct result of this deriliction of duty the development of my personality, and indeed many other personalities UU and otherwise, has neither been free nor full...)
(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.
So far I'm in the clear here at least in terms of Canadian law. I'm still waiting for due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of myself and other God believing UUs. I'm still waiting for the UU "religious community" to meet the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a UU "democratic society", to say nothing of larger society...
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
N/A
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.
(I dare say that within the context of the Unitarian Universalist "religious community" UUs do in fact engage in activity and/or perform acts aimed at the destruction of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.)
There you go CC...
I am sure that you are familiar with the saying -
"Be careful what you ask for lest you get it..."
It is a saying that you and other UUs would do well to pay heed to when dealing with me.
Sincerely,
Robin Edgar
In my 'Disruptive Behavior' thread I said -
If it is perfectly acceptable to solicit people to sign Amnesty International petitions and to hand out other letters and pamphlets etc. about human rights abuses during "Coffee Hour" why is it not acceptable to distribute letters of grievance about internal human rights abuses at the same time? Other than hypocritical double
standards of course...
"ChaliceChick" responded -
What human rights abuse? The UDHR is here:
http://www.un.org/rights/50/decla.htm
Where was it violated? I mean, you may think that your situation is as bad as a torture victim's but you've got understand that many people won't see it that way.
Here is my response to CCs' challenge...
Here we go CC...
As promised, you will find below the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights interspersed with my commentary contained in brackets showing how UUs have flagrantly disregarded or clearly violated numerous articles of the UDHR within the context of the UU religious community.
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be
disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
(I dare say that maybe the UUA would do well to see to it that every UU congregation has a copy of the UDHA displayed for its members to see. The UUA, its Ministerial Fellowship Committee, and the congregation of the Unitarian "Church" of Montreal could benefit considerably from refamiliarizing themselves with the ideals expounded in the UDHR...)
PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
(I'm still waiting for UUs to show some recognition of my own inherent dignity to say nothing of the inherent dignity of other God believing people in general and Christians in particular... I and other UUs have yet to benefit from equal and inalienable rights within the pathetically dysfunctional UU family. It is abundantly evident that UUs have willfully and flagrantly undermined freedom, justice, and
peace within the UU religious community in terms of this particular conflict but no doubt UUs have done this in many other ways...)
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the commonpeople,
(UUs have displayed disregard and contempt for my human rights. Rev. Ray Drennan's abusive clergy misconduct and subsequent UU injustices and abuses could justifiably be described as "barbarous acts" and they have outraged the conscience of some members of humankind... not the least of them my conscience. Sadly, as I have previously remarked most of the UUs I know seem to confuse freedom OF conscience with freedom FROM conscience... UUs have clearly infringed in my ability to "enjoy freedom of speech and belief" to say nothing of "freedom from fear and want"...)
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
(Because UUs have abjectly failed, indeed obstinately refused... to ensure that my own and other people's human rights are protected by UU "rule of law" I have been compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to a certain amount of rebellion against UU tyranny and oppression...)
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
(UUs have failed miserably to promote the development of friendly relations with me to say nothing of many other God believing people...)
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
(Too bad UUs can't manage to walk this talk...)
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
(Regrettably many of the UUs that I know display little respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms with respect to me and other people...)
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
(I agree. A common understanding of these rights and freedoms by UUs is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge by UUs...)
Now, Therefore,
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
proclaims
THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
(I can't say that UUs "strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures secure their effective recognition and observance by UUs. Of course I could say the same thing about the "covenants" expressed in the Seven Principles and other UU empty promises and hypocritical posturing...)
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.
(Rev. Ray Drennan and a whole lot of other UUs have failed miserably to act towards me 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.
(Rev. Ray Drennan and other UUs have infringed on my liberty and even my 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.
N/A
Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
(I have been subjected to what could rightly be described as moderate to considerable psychological torture by Rev. Ray Drennan and other UUs. Having my religious beliefs repeatedly ridiculed by Rev. Drennan and other anti-religious UUs is degrading treatment. Being labeled as "psychotic" "a nutcase" "crazy" "sick prick" "delusional" "suffering from a personality disorder" etc. etc. etc. is degrading treatment. Having Creation Day falsely labeled as a "cult" by Rev. Ray Drennan, Frank Green, John Inder (both past Presidents of the UCM Board) and other UUs is not only degrading it seriously infringes on my religious freedom. The "kangaroo court" cum special congregational meeting and various other unjust punishments by UUs would be seen as being quite humiliating and degrading by most people.)
Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
(Sometimes I wonder if I have the right to recognition as a person before UUs... Much of the demeaning and abusive labeling serves to dehumanize me and thus deny me a person...)
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.
(I was by no means equal before "UU law" I was most certainly discriminated against in UU "legal" processes as is clear just in terms of the MFC letters. Not only did I receive virtually no protection from the abusive clergy misconduct of Rev. Ray Drennan but I was repeatedly punished for complaining about it while Rev. Ray Drennan has never been held accountable for his abusive clergy misconduct. There is more that I could add in terms of wider UU discrimination and unjust and unequitable (to say nothing of uncompassionate) treatment of me but the foregoing should be sufficient in terms of illustrating how UU have violated my human rights within the context of the UU religious community.)
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.
(I have yet to receive an "effective remedy" by "competent" UU tribunals for the acts of Rev. Ray Drennan and other UUs that are clearly violating the fundamental rights granted me by the UU "constitution" (i.e. Seven Principles) or UU "law" (i.e. UUMA Guidelines and Code of Professional Practice) In fact some of my mistreatment by UUs may well violate the provisions of the Canadian constitution and Canadian law. UUs are skating on very thin ice by charging me under a criminal law that is clearly meant to prevent disruption of an actual church service when I am peacefully and usually quite quietly protesting out of sight and out of earshot of the UCM's sanctuary. I may well challenge these charges on constitutional grounds if my case ever gets heard that is...)
Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
(I put it to you that I was repeatedly subjected to "arbitrary arrest" in terms of internal UU sanctions and punishments. I put it to you that my "exile" from the Unitarian Church of Montreal is unjust, unequitable, uncompassionate and in many ways quite "arbitrary"... Even my arrest on trumped up "public nuisance" charges might fit the "arbitrary arrrest" provisions here. Maybe I should look into that... Certainly the sworn testimony of UUs that finally persuaded the police to arrest me, after they had repeatedly told church members that I had a constitutional right to protest, is full of half truths and whole lies that may well constitute perjury...)
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.
(I put it to you that I have not been treated with "full equality" under UU "law". I have yet to receive a "fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial UU tribunal in the determinition of my rights" in terms of my grievances. The "kangaroo court" cum special congregational meeting in which I defended myself against the trumped up "criminal charges" that were brought against me by the UCM's Board was very "public" but it was far from "independent", far from impartial and far from fair. In fact it was a carefully maniputed process that was heavily biased in favor of the "church" and I was essentially treated as though I was "guilty until proven innocent".
These and other UUs still have a "guilty until proven innocent" attitude but of course they dare not provide a "fair and public hearing" where I could prove my innocence to say nothing of Rev. Ray Drennan's guilt...)
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.
(Ah well there we go... In terms of the "penal offences" that I was accused with in the UCM's "kangaroo court" I was in fact presumed guilty and given very little fair chance to prove my innocence. In fact I was cut off before I could respond to the third and most serious of the three "charges" that they brought against me. I had few guarantees necessary for my defence but I can assure you that these UUs did everything they could in terms of manipulating the process to guarantee that I would be expelled by the congregation.)
(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.
(Actually my first six month expulsion from the UCM, ostensibly for writing one more letter to the Board than they wanted to throw in their recycling bin, can readily be seen as my being "held guilty" of a "penal offence" on account of an act which did not constitute a "penal offence" under UCM "law" at the time when it was committed...
The same might be said about my subsequent temporary expulsions for picketing the "church". You may recall that the chair of the UCM's "Stalinistic" Disruptive Behavior Committee told me loudly and clearly that they did not care if I did handed out my letters off of church property (which is exactly what I was doing when I was first expelled for six months...) and he even specifically said that they did not care if I picketed the church. Yet I was subsequently temporarily expelled for a year when I began picketing and this year long expulsion was extended by a further six months. An examination of the "penalties" that I was subjected to will show that the UCM repeatedly changed their own rules in the middle of the "game" to suit their unjust, unequitable, and uncompassionate purposes...
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.
(Seems to me that Rev. Ray Drennan's abusive clergy misconduct as I have previously described it clearly constitutes "attacks" upon my "honour and reputation"... Yet to this very day I have received absolutely no protection whatsoever from UU "law" against Rev. Ray Drennan's demeaning and abusive attacks on me.)
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 his own, and to return to his country.
(Well this may be stretching the above a bit but, just to make a point, my freedom of "movement" within the borders of the Unitarian Church of Montreal was repeatedly restricted... There is no provision for my "return" to the Unitarian Church of Montreal. Indeed I should mention that there was no provision for any appeal of my expulsion from the UCM...
Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
Well I do have the right to seek and enjoy asylum from UU persecution
in other UU congregations.
(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.
(I dare say that my "crimes" against hypocritical UUs are in fact quite "political"... Of course they have everything to do with exposing and denouncing Rev. Ray Drennan's and other UUs' anti-religious and abusive acts that are contrary to the purported purposes and principles of the UUA to say nothing of the UUMA Guidelines and Code of Professional Practice)
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.
(Again this might be stretching this clause a bit but I have been quite unjustly and arbitrarily deprived of my "citizenship" in the Unitarian Church of Montreal...)
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.
N/A
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
N/A
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.
Hmmm... I seem to recall having been "arbitrarily deprived" of some picket signs... In fact various UUs have at various times "arbitrarily deprived" me of my picket signs but all of them, except retired Queen's Counsel lawyer Kenneth Howard QC (who really should have known better...), had the good sense to return them to me when I made it clear that I would file theft charges against them.
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.
(I dare say that within the context of UUism this article of the IDHR has been flagrantly and repeatedly violated by Rev. Ray Drennan and many other UUs. I will spare you the details for now as they should be obvious to all but the most DIM Thinking UUs.)
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.
(UUs have in fact repeatedly censored or suppressed my freedom of opinion and expression. They have repeatedly interfered with my ability to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media.)
Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(Within the context of the Unitarian Church of Montreal my own freedom of peaceful assembly and association was infringed when the UCM's Board arbitrarily and unjustly banned Creation Day from being celebrated on church property even though it had been unanimously approved by the RE committee as an adult RE activity. Imight add that the meeting was both a secretive and manipulative perversion of the democratic process... Previously Frank Green, while the UCM's President, had arbitrarily and unilaterally prevented me from starting a group to discuss spirituality because "some people might think that you're trying to start a movement within the church..." He later made a "joke" insinuating a link between Creation Day and the notorious Solar Temple cult while I was organizing the first Creation Day in the fall of 1994. I was later informed that Frank Green had repeatedly labeled Creation day as a "cult" but had had the political astuteness to do so behind my back...)
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
God forbid that anyone should be compelled to join the Unitarian Universalist Association...
Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(I never tried to get on the Board of the Unitarian Church of Montreal but I am sure that if I had tried to do so they would have found ways to make it difficult or impossible for me to do so. I should have been allowed to be present at the October 1994 UCM Board meeting in order to answer questions about Creation Day and respond to any objections. I was barred from the totally secretive and quite manipulative "in camera" segment of this meeting in which they banned Creation Day from being celebrated on "church" property. Less than a month later Rev. Ray Drennan was labeling Creation Day as "your cult" to my face... Need I say more?)
(2) Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
(It seems to me that I did not have equal access to the "public service" of the UCM...)
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this 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.
(Some, even much, UU "democracy" is a pathetic sham that in no way parallels normal political processes. Many UU "elections" are far from "genuine" and the "suffrage" is neither universal nor equal.)
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.
(I think that I could reasonably argue that the UCM's anti-democratic banning of Creation Day, to say nothing of Rev. Ray Drennan's and other UUs' more serious demeaning and abusive treatment of me, infringed on my entitlement to "realize" my own and others' "cultural rights" that are "indispensable" for my own and others' dignity and the free development of my own and others' 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.
N/A but... I was arbitrarily passed over (discriminated against) by Frank Green when the UCM needed to replace its caretaker, even though I really could have used the job at the time and had previously filled in for the caretaker when he took a few weeks holiday in Europe. In fact, the caretaker recommended me to replace him and I had made it clear to the church secretary that I was ready, willing and able to replace him. Of course this had nothing to to with Frank Green's suspicious minded labeling of Creation Day as a "cult" etc.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
N/A
(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.
N/A
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
N/A However... The repeated malicious interference of UUs in my religious activities, including but not limited to my efforts to establish Creation Day as a legitimate inter-religious event sponsored by the UU religious community, has clear parallels to union-busting dirty tricks...
Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
(Well I get plenty of "leisure" picketing the UCM...)
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.
N/A
(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.
N/A
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.
N/A However, by banning Creation Day the UCM denied some UUs and non-UUs the right to participate in Religious Education on their property...
(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.
The Unitarian Church of Montreal and indeed the greater UU "religious community" have indirectly made a mockery of this article in terms of how they have treated me. Creation Day most certainly promoted understanding, tolerance, and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups but these UUs banned it and did whatever they could to destroy my ability to promote Creation Day by labeling it as a "cult"...
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
N/A
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.
(Seems to me that I did not, and still do not, have the right to freely and fully participate in the "cultural life" of the UU community, or to share in its religious advancement and 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.
It is possible that by labeling Creation Day as a "cult" etc. that UUs have infringed on my moral rights in terms of Creation Day but this is not certain.
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.
(As should be quite evident by, the "social order" of the UU religious community has in fact clearly infringed on the basic rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration of Human Rights. Far from seeing to it that they are "fully realized" within the UU religious community UUs have in fact repeatedly made a complete mockery of some of these rights and freedoms...)
Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
I put it to you that Rev. Ray Drennan, Rev. Diane Miller and many other UUs have been quite derelict in their duties to the UU religious community. As a direct result of this deriliction of duty the development of my personality, and indeed many other personalities UU and otherwise, has neither been free nor full...)
(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.
So far I'm in the clear here at least in terms of Canadian law. I'm still waiting for due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of myself and other God believing UUs. I'm still waiting for the UU "religious community" to meet the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a UU "democratic society", to say nothing of larger society...
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
N/A
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.
(I dare say that within the context of the Unitarian Universalist "religious community" UUs do in fact engage in activity and/or perform acts aimed at the destruction of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.)
There you go CC...
I am sure that you are familiar with the saying -
"Be careful what you ask for lest you get it..."
It is a saying that you and other UUs would do well to pay heed to when dealing with me.
Sincerely,
Robin Edgar
Comments
I note that most of these are not sentences, and lack context. What was said?
I was clearly asking for full sentences.
When and where did you answer?
Note that saying you do not need to answer is not an answer.
The Emerson Avenger said...
If you give people a great offer, some will still decide to disrespect you for it.
No kidding. . .
5:13 PM, December 08, 2006
If you want to say something relevant, say it. Don't insert your links into my words just so you can pretend they are on topic.
When were you passed over for the caretaker job? You say Frank Green did it, was the whole hiring decision up to him? I take it you worked well with the previous caretaker, did you work well with the next one?
You brought it up, it is relevant.
These details matter if you intend to give an honest portrayal of your interactions with the people at the UCM.
I'm pretty sure you never answered these questions. if you are not lying about that, then link to the answers.
When were you passed over for the caretaker job? You say Frank Green did it, was the whole hiring decision up to him? I take it you worked well with the previous caretaker, did you work well with the next one?
Not in this thread it isn't indrax, and I only brought it up in direct response to hypocritical statements made by Joel Monka in the comments section of anotherbv thread.
:These details matter if you intend to give an honest portrayal of your interactions with the people at the UCM.
I am giving a very honest and very accurate portrayal of my interactions with the people at the UCM however I am by no means obliged to go into every little detail of every single interaction that I ever had with anyone.
:I'm pretty sure you never answered these questions. if you are not lying about that, then link to the answers.
Sorry indrax but I am not wasting much more of my time with you. If you somehow missed the answers or just plain forgot them that is your problem not mine. I suggest that you go looking for them because I have better things to do with my time than to endlessly argue with an idiot who apparently has a rather poor memory to boot. . .
:When were you passed over for the caretaker job? You say Frank Green did it, was the whole hiring decision up to him?
That episode is not relevant to this thread and has already been dealt with elsewhere. I will not waste time answeringquestions that are little more than diversions from the main issues involved here.
:I take it you worked well with the previous caretaker, did you work well with the next one?
Well that just proves that you don't process information very well indrax which is one of the reasons I will not waste much more time engaging with you from here on in. I said clearly that I replaced the caretaker while he went away on a trip so I obviously did not work with him. . . I will not discuss this matter further in this thread or on this blog. It is a comparatively minor side issue to the fact that Frank Greene, who was the President of the Board of the Unitarian Church of Montreal in 1994, made a tasteless joke that insinuated a link between Creation Day and the notorious Solar Temple suicide cult when I was organizing the first celebration of Creation Day in the fall of 1994 soon after the Solar Temple suicide/murders made front page news headlines.
Is 'when?" too complex a question for you?