I was checking out an auction on Steve Nash's foundation website
www.stevenash.org, and I came across this tidbit:
Quote:
The Foundation’s mission goes from “underprivileged” to “underserved.”
In 1991, Canada ratified a United Nations document called the Convention On the Rights Of the Child (the United States remains the only UN member state to have not ratified these basic rights). This paper recognizes that children need certain things to be able to grow, and promises to deliver them for the sake of all children. At the Steve Nash Foundation, we work hard to ensure that children have access to those rights that are due to them — to be healthy, to learn, to live free of abuse, and to play without fear of harm. We don’t believe any of these aims to be privileges, yet we see constantly the words “underprivileged” ascribed to children lacking the resources necessary to ensure their growth. Having a school that you can walk to without fear of violence should not be seen as a privilege. Basic nutrition and clean water should not be seen as a privilege. Living in a safe, loving home environment should not be seen as a privilege. We are privileged by the presence of children in our midst. We must take it upon ourselves to honour kids such that we demand for them nothing short of the best. We have to become outraged at the imperfection we put upon them daily. We have to do better. These kids aren’t “underprivileged.” They are underserved, undervalued, and our society’s disservice to them underexposed. Join us to make an assist for kids. Help us grow health in kids.
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Anyhoo... I was reading this, and I thought the first sentence was rather odd. Why would the US not ratify this document? Does anyone have some insight into this, or even remember when this was first discussed in 1991?
Edit: Clarified the title a bit.