Human Rights 美国人对人权的看法 （ 2 ）

Throughout American history, the belief in individual human rights has influenced government policies and laws. Slavery opponents argued that even slaves had rights as human beings. Finally, after the Civil War, slavery was outlawed. As industries developed, many people protested the poor working conditions.

纵观美国历史，尊重个人人权的信念一直影响着政府的政策和法律。反黑奴政策者认为甚至连奴隶都该拥有作为人的基本权利。终于在美国南北战争之后，法律便禁止奴隶制度的存在。随着工业的发展，很多人抗议不良的工作条件。

Eventually, laws were passed guaranteeing workers fair wages and working hours and prohibiting child labor. The Civil Rights Movement used human rights arguments in the fight against discrimination. Even today, U.S. trade relations with other countries depend on their having a positive human rights record.

最后，终于通过法案保障工人合理的工资、工时、并且禁用童工。在美国民权运动中，也以人权的基本论点来抗议各样的歧视和差别待遇。甚至在今天，美国与其它国家的贸易关系如何，也视对方是否拥有良好的人权记录而定。

Human rights have become a global concern. The cruelty of Nazi Germany illustrated the danger of not protecting human rights. As a result, the United Nations was established in 1945 with a belief in the basic human rights of all people. Three years later, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document stated that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." Later, groups like Amnesty International were formed to keep an eye out for human rights abuses wherever they occur.

人权已成为全球各国关注的焦点，德国纳粹党的残酷史实即说明了罔顾人权的危险。于是，联合国在一九四五年设立，该组织深信所有人类都应拥有基本人权。三年之后，联合国正式通过世界人权宣言。这一份文件提出「所有人类生而拥有尊严及权利的平等和自由」。稍后，国际特赦组织成立，以监督防止任何违反人权的事件发生。

Most nations in the world today would agree that human beings have basic rights. Of course, different countries have different perspectives about the issue. Some governments feel the need to restrict individual rights to protect the rights of society. They resent being forced to accept America's definition of human rights. But to Americans, no matter how you define the issue, people deserve to be treated like people.

今天，世界上大部分的国家都认同人类应拥有基本的权利。当然，不同的国家会用不同的角度来看这件事。有些政府觉得有必要以限制个人权利来保障社会权利；他们痛恨被迫接受美国的人权定义。然而对美国人而言，无论你如何定义这个主题，只要是人就应该以人的方式对待他。