Good News: How an Interconnected World Promotes Human Rights

Decades ago, the death sentence passed on an innocent woman in Sudan, based on an obvious travesty of justice and our humanity, would have been executed without the world noticing. It would have been another despicable routine with hapless victims having no chance, whatsoever, for justice. Now, with the interconnected world, any cell phone can transmit information from even the remotest areas to the rest of the world. Thanks to our interconnectivity and to ongoing debates and questioning of some acts that have outlived any usefulness in humanity. The death sentence passed on an innocent woman, ironically by a “court of justice”, defiled any logic or justice. The basic ingredient of our humanity, which is freedom to be whom we choose to be, has been encroached upon from ages by some obnoxious human inventions. Notable of these tools of oppression, are “culture” and religion. And when one considers “culture” closely, it could be seen as a projected dominance usually from a more powerful person or group to the rest of the community. It should therefore not be taken as a given that “culture” always is right. It is only right to the extent it aligns with basic human essence. A culture that inflicts pain; that oppresses the weak and vulnerable; and which does not acknowledge our differences as elements of beauty and flow, deserves the trash can. This also applies to religion, which is usually in some amalgam with culture.

The interconnected world has put the spotlight on these practices which have subjugated people for ages, and now people around the world are questioning the legitimacy of these authorities in our global village. Users of these tools of oppression, who are apparently cowards, have usually tended to escape accountability and natural justice by invoking the name of god or tradition. Discrimination and stigmatization have leveraged on fabricated class or caste differences to desecrate humanity, but our inter-connectivity is exposing this corruption of values for the grave danger it portends to the survival of the rest of humanity. We must keep up the pressure for change. It is working.

Recent news from Sudan suggests that common sense may have prevailed after all. Local and international pressure on the government since the news broke out appears to be gaining some traction. Thanks to our inter-connectivity, a global outcry against this travesty of logic and justice has spread through conventional and social media, and blogs creating global awareness for people to question these religious anomies that humanity has put up with for so long. Our inter-connectivity is engaging people across all facets of life and awaking consciousness on the need to protect our freedom from misguided elements who masquerade under religion and god to commit all sorts of atrocities against humanity.

Extremism, bigotry and hatred are toxic to humanity. We can share some light and rake up support in our collective ability through an interconnected world to neutralize this poison and preserve human rights and dignity. There will be great challenges no doubt as inter-connectivity is also a double edged sword, amenable to be used in radicalization of impressionable youngsters and in promoting extremism and violence, especially against women. However, there is a greater opportunity to share common sense and perspectives that respect the essence of humanity and turn the table against destructive tendencies in the name of religion or culture or any other guise. This is good news.