Wouldn’t it be a great idea to upgrade the Magna Carta![1]

It’s been 800-years, after all.

Let’s go to v. 2.0—a charter for the entire world to ensure human rights for all people.[2] From the poorest starving child in the world’s poorest nation to every hardworking laborer in every land, to every clerk and nurse practitioner and doctor, to every peddler and author and reporter, and every jobless worker, too, and every stay-at-home parent, and to every single child—we will all be included and covered by the same code to protect our human rights and to preserve our peace with one another.[3]

This patchwork poem is cobbled together from prior entries representing the glory of our rich progress along the steep path toward improving human rights. Josh White and Dr. King’s words and Maya Angelou’s sentiment and the Bentari Project’s rallying response can be like a poem, if you are generous. Isn’t that a good thing to be and a fine way to feel as we celebrate our nation’s independence from tyranny—let’s be generous!

“So listen you African, Indian, Mexican, Mongolian, Tyrolean and Tartar”[4]
“whether Ashanti, Mbara or Turk, whether German or Scot or Maori or Inuit—
we will hold these sentiments deep within our own freest hearts”[5]
Martin said, “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied ’til justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
And we said, “We are marching—justly and righteously, like a mighty stream.” [6]

Sisters and Brothers of All Lands,
On Independence Day in America, 2015
May we realize our inter-dependence at last, and—
May Peace be with Us All.

Image: Gandhi teaching[7]

[1] See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

[2] See: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ and http://hrusa.org/

[3] Join the “Wage Peace” Community on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/wagepeacenz

[4] Josh White lyrics for “Free and Equal Blues” at: http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2127

[5] See prior entries: http://bentari.com/Blog/Entry.aspx?pid=276&bid=51&beid=830 and http://bentari.com/Blog/Entry.aspx?pid=276&bid=51&beid=1026

[6] See prior entry: http://bentari.com/Blog/Entry.aspx?pid=276&bid=51&beid=829

[7] See: http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/how-would-gandhi-lead-the-leaderless/