Het vinden van betekenis kan simpel worden gekenschetst: weet wie je bent, wat je wilt en acteer ernaar op moedige wijze. De woorden van Eleanor Roosevelt raken precies aan die beweging: positie kiezen en vervolgens handelen.
– Klik op een afbeelding voor de muziekvideo (6.17) –
De gedachte over het geven van betekenis kwam op toen ik deze prachtige muziekvideo zag van Max Richter en Yulia Mahr. Ze zetten muziek en beelden onder de woorden van Eleanor Roosevelt die de ‘Universele Verklaring van de Rechten van de Mens’ voorleest en dat raakt meteen. Eleanor Roosevelt spendeerde een groot deel leven van haar leven aan het realiseren van gelijkwaardige rechten voor ieder mens.
“In the long run there is no more liberating, no more exhilarating experience than to determine one’s position, state it bravely, and then act boldly.”
Het vinden van betekenis kan op een simpele wijze worden gekenschetst. Weet wie je bent, wat je wilt, acteer ernaar op moedige wijze, weet welke mensen daarop zitten te wachten en zorg dat hun leven in positieve zin verandert. Om vervolgens te genieten en je te laten raken door deze verandering. Het lijkt simpel. De uitdaging zit hem met name in de eerste drie stappen. Dat is vaak een zoektocht in jezelf langs belemmerende overtuigingen en andere obstakels.
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,
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 common people,
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,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
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,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
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.
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.
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.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
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.
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.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
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. 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.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
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.
Meer over Eleanor Roosevelt: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (New York, 11 oktober 1884 – aldaar, 7 november 1962) was een Amerikaanse politica, diplomate en activiste. Als echtgenote van de Amerikaanse president Franklin D. Roosevelt was ze de langst dienende first lady van de Verenigde Staten, van… (lees meer).
Meer over Max Richter: is a German-born British composer and pianist. He works within postminimalism and in the meeting of contemporary classical and alternative popular musical styles. Richter is classically trained, having graduated in composition from from the Royal Academy of Music, and studied with Luciano Berio in Italy (lees meer).
Meer over Yulia Mahr: is Creative Director at Studio Richter Mahr, alongside composer Max Richter – a studio which acts as an incubator for a wide variety of art and music projects. The studio has recently released VOICES, co-conceived by Mahr and Richter (lees meer).
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