Tainted Legacy: 9/11 and the Ruin of Human Rights

by William F. Schulz

Have human rights as we once understood them become obsolete since 9-11? Aren't new methods needed to combat the apocalyptic violence of al-Qaeda? Shouldn't we sacrifice some rights to make us all... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560254890
• ISBN13: 9781560254898
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Nation Books
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

A Must Read!!!!

Bill Schultz continues to shine on the forefront of the human rights movement. Schultz's "Tainted Legacy" uses a human rights framework as a means to critique post 9/11 U.S. policy. This book is a quick read, but contains complex issues and topics. Schultz is an excellent thinker who uses this book to show the importance of respecting human rights in a time of uncertainty. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who questions the importance of human rights and also to those who already struggle to protect human rights both at home and abroad.

Insightful and Challenging

Looking beyond the moral rhetoric of the Bush administration and its war against terrorism, Tainted Legacy examines how human rights have become expendable in the interests of national security and how this in turn has tainted the credibility and legitimacy of the international human rights regime. William Schulz challenges the contradictions of past and present US foreign policy by tracing different times when the US has betrayed its most fundamental values for short term interests and how this has provoked more anti-American sediment and distrust for US policies throughout the world. At the same time, he condemns the US government's disregard for human rights here at home, by looking at the secret detention and abuse that over a thousand Muslim immigrants endured in the days that followed 9/11. It is through these examples, that Schulz challenges the US to make its war on terrorism coincide with policies that are consistent with human rights, so that the US does not end up fueling more hatred into a new generation of terrorists and taint human rights further. In conclusion, Tainted Legacy gives a provocative look at the importance of human rights in eliminating terror and oppression throughout the world and is highly recommended for anyone interested in exploring alternative ways to build a more peaceful world.

Thought provoking and informative

Bill Schulz has written a masterpiece. He argues that the best way to combat terrorism is to encourage the growth of an international community, promote human rights around the world, and respect Arabs within our own country. Arab students, green card holders, and citizens who live in America are our best allies, he argues. Yet Bush's administration has alienated these people by imprisoning them without due process and violating their human rights. Schulz reminds us that terrorism flourishes among the poor, hungry, and disillusioned. If potential terrorists were given jobs, fed, and treated with dignity, the appeal of Al-Qaeda wouldn't be so forceful.Not only criticizing conservatives, Schulz isn't afraid to point out the flaws in the liberal argument. He asks that the activist community reexamines itself in the wake of 9/11. Bill Schulz shines as a leader within the human rights community. This book is a must for any socially conscious individual.

Thought provoking and informative

Tainted Legacy: 9/ll And the Ruins of Human Rights is a welcome contribution to the discussion on human rights and global security. The book provides a readable historical grounding in human rights law and then looks at how 9/ll changed our world. Schulz ventures into the debate over whether some rights can be derogated in the name of security. He poses fundamental questions that political leaders and human rights activists cannot avoid if we truly want a less terrorized world. A "must" read for anyone concerned with the issue of global security...

Powerful and Insightful

If you're wondering about how the war on terror is affecting US policy and human rights around the world - then you need to read this book. It is an interesting read that offers important, well thought out arguments, as well engaging stories and surprising statistics. The author of the book is the Executive Director of Amnesty International and his skill at telling engaging stories, which seem to be attributed to his many diverse experiences, is clearly evident in Tainted Legacy.