NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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OPINION
EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
FOREIGN RELATIONS
STAFF EDITORIAL
US must abandon hypocritical notion of exceptionalism By IAN MARK
Every year, the U.S. State Department releases a report on the status of human rights in countries around the world. Every year, one country is notably missing from this report — the United States. This year, China fired back by releasing its own report on the status of human rights in America, just two days after the U.S. report was released. China found that the United States has infringed on human rights around the world, particularly in its military operations in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen, as well as at home. The report cited gun violence and discrimination on the basis of race, sex and religion as instances of human rights violations within the United States. It also alleged that America is not a true democracy, as political contributions have made it so “Americans do not enjoy a genuinely equal right to vote.” There has been no response from the American government concerning these allegations. And why should there be? A foreign government has no right to criticize how our country is run, to impose its own standards on us and expect us to change. It’s completely understandable if we are upset by this report and feel some hostility toward China, isn’t it? Whatever feelings this report evokes in Americans surely reflects the response of other citizens in other countries to the annual State Department report. The sheer arrogance involved in releasing a report that judges every other country is amaz-
ing. Since its inception, the idea of American exceptionalism has infused itself into everything we have done as a nation, and it’s time for that to stop. America has never been superior in anything but military might. The fact is, all of the allegations China made are true. Despite the human rights progress our society has made — from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage — racism, sexism and intolerance still run rampant. Our government must remember that it governs America, not the world. How can we expect to maintain positive relations with other countries while our noses are still in the air? We are not the greatest country in the world. We are one of many countries struggling to provide for all of our citizens. Perhaps if we ranked number one in income equality, standard of living and education, we could release a report about what every other country is doing wrong. But we don’t, and we aren’t even close. China’s report illustrates the hypocrisy that has plagued U.S. foreign policy for generations. If we continue to view ourselves as better than everyone else — even though there are mountains of evidence suggesting otherwise — it will be increasingly difficult to find allies in this changing world. Our role as an international police force has rubbed other countries the wrong way since the Monroe Doctrine, and it’s time for us to give it up. Ian Mark is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Gay marriage legalization in France signals need for change stateside
When France legalized marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples on Tuesday, it became the 14th nation in the world to make marriage equality official. The 331-to-225 vote was largely split between the parliamentary left and right, and the final decision roused violent street protests and strong conservative backlash. Since the bill’s passage, several gays and lesbians have been targets of acts of violence. In one case, Wilfred de Bruijn, a Dutch citizen, was badly beaten up while walking with his partner in Paris. He posted a photograph of his swollen and bloodied face that went viral. It was captioned, “The face of homophobia.” The backlash seems somewhat misplaced, as France has historically been at the forefront of implementing social reform. Yet, even in a country as progressive as France, homophobia is prevalent, and there are strong, conservative born Catholic groups that continue to oppose reforms. These voices echo a long-standing belief that marriage between a man and a woman is an institution that should remain untouched. But just because something is a deeply rooted tradition does not mean it is right. If we believe in the idea of progress, we must retreat from tradition sometimes. Moreover, it is important to note that France is not dis-
posing of the institution of marriage, but rather amending and extending it. The United States should take note of the public backlash in France as we await the Supreme Court decision. Like France, the United States also has a strong conservative base. Just as France did this week, the United States should officially recognize same-sex couples’ right to marry as an unalienable right. Marriage is a legal liberty that cannot be compromised by someone else’s religion or moral imperatives. For too long same-sex couples have been discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation and excluded from the social and legal benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy. France’s sweeping social reform should be a wake-up call for the United States. We’ve been stuck alongside the United Kingdom as the western world’s Anglo-Saxon, socially conservative nation. Although we are visibly moving toward marriage equality, as Rhode Island is on its way to becoming the 10th state to legalize gay marriage, we still have a Supreme Court that is hesitant to make a broad ruling allowing same-sex couples to marry. We’ll get our answer in June, but for many gay rights activists in the United States, it is a long time coming. Email the WSN Editorial board at editboard@nyunews.com.
SPORTS
Knicks, Celtics series to pick up pace in Boston showdown By NISHAAD RUPAREL
Madison Square Garden was electric on Tuesday night. The seats vibrated to chants for Carmelo Anthony and the bellowing applause for J.R. Smith, who had just been named the NBA’s sixth Man of the Year. The players started the game with a ton of energy, and the fans remained on their feet for the entire game. The New York Knicks won their second game of the postseason, jumping out to a 2-0 series lead over the Boston Celtics, one of basketball’s perennial contend-
SUBMITTING TO
ers. The victory marks the first time since 2000 that the Knicks have won more than one game in a playoff series. New York’s recent performance is a reassuring sign of the franchise’s turnaround. Fans have been longing for this playoff success for at least a decade. In the past few seasons, the Knicks’ defense was laughable, and the offense hinged its hopes on open 3-pointers and streaky shooting. This year, gears have shifted within the organization. Excuses have become apologies, coupled with admissions of
failure and guarantees for future improvement. Defense has become a priority, and the potent offense is balanced with multiple scoring threats and selfless facilitators. While the Knicks are fueled by a desire to meet their hometown’s lofty expectations, the Celtics have been struggling. Their big three — Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce — were broken up when Allen left to play for the title-defending Miami Heat. Rajon Rondo has been sidelined with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The Celtics
limped into the playoffs as the seventh seed. Then something terrible happened. The Boston Marathon bombing left the entire city in shambles. In an instant, one of America’s most powerful metropolises had its identity maimed by a horrific act of terror. In their recovery, Bostonians have turned to their enduring sports teams for solace and stability. The Celtics, who had been struggling to find a sense of purpose until recently, are now playing for something greater than a championship. The Celtics are playing for ev-
ery person in Boston, knowing full well what success on a national stage could do for their city at a time like this. The next two games of the series will be played in Boston, and while the Knicks will look to continue their success and win their first playoff series in 13 years, the Celtics will be feeding off a different motivation. Whatever the results of the series, expect the next two games to be far more intense. Nishaad Ruparel is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
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