09 Is this ignoring human rights?
/09 Is this ignoring human rights?
*Karim is a responsible boy who learned about the term “human rights” at school.
/*Karim is a responsible boy who learned about the term “human rights” at school.
The teacher said, “Human rights are the rights that allow everyone to be respected and live happily.
/The teacher said, “Human rights are the rights that allow everyone to be respected and live happily.
For example, expressing your opinions freely and studying at school are also part of human rights.”
/For example, expressing your opinions freely and studying at school are also part of human rights.”
When *Karim got home, he remembered something about his class.
/When *Karim got home, he remembered something about his class.
In his class, there was a boy named *Samir who was a bit shy and not good at talking.
/In his class, there was a boy named *Samir who was a bit shy and not good at talking.
One day, *Karim invited *Samir to play with him and his friends, but when *Samir refused, *Karim ended up being mean.
/One day, *Karim invited *Samir to play with him and his friends, but when *Samir refused, *Karim ended up being mean.
He said, “What’s wrong with you, *Samir? You’re so boring!”
/He said, “What’s wrong with you, *Samir? You’re so boring!”
That night, *Karim told his mother what had happened at school.
/That night, *Karim told his mother what had happened at school.
“*Samir said he didn’t want to play, so I got a little angry and said something mean,” he said.
/”*Samir said he didn’t want to play, so I got a little angry and said something mean,” he said.
His mother listened quietly and then said,
/His mother listened quietly and then said,
“*Karim, maybe you ignored *Samir’s feelings.
/”*Karim, maybe you ignored *Samir’s feelings.
*Samir has the freedom to choose what he wants to do.
/Samir has the freedom to choose what he wants to do.
It’s important to respect that.”
/It’s important to respect that.”
*Karim was startled.
/*Karim was startled.
I didn’t think about *Samir’s feelings and only thought about myself… Does that mean I ignored his human rights?
/I didn’t think about *Samir’s feelings and only thought about myself… Does that mean I ignored his human rights?
His mother nodded.
/His mother nodded.
“Yes, forcing your own thoughts without considering the other person’s feelings can hurt their human rights.
/Yes, forcing your own thoughts without considering the other person’s feelings can hurt their human rights.
Saying mean things just because things didn’t go your way is not okay.
/Saying mean things just because things didn’t go your way is not okay.
It’s very important to try to understand others.”
/It’s very important to try to understand others.”
The next day, *Karim spoke to *Samir at school.
/The next day, *Karim spoke to *Samir at school.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I think I made you feel bad. If it’s okay, let’s play together next time.”
/I’m sorry about yesterday. I think I made you feel bad. If it’s okay, let’s play together next time.”
*Samir looked a little surprised, but then smiled and said,
/*Samir looked a little surprised, but then smiled and said,
“Okay! But that way of speaking hurt me, so please don’t do it again.”
/Okay! But that way of speaking hurt me, so please don’t do it again.”
*Karim became even more serious and apologized again.
/*Karim became even more serious and apologized again.
“You’re right. I’d feel bad too if someone said that to me. I’m really sorry.”
/You’re right. I’d feel bad too if someone said that to me. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay now,” *Samir said.
/”It’s okay now,” *Samir said.
At that moment, *Karim felt his heart warm up.
/At that moment, *Karim felt his heart warm up.
Multiple Choice Review Questions
/Multiple Choice Review Questions
What was the mean thing *Karim said to *Samir?
/What was the mean thing *Karim said to *Samir?
a. “What’s wrong with you, *Samir? You’re so boring!”
/a. “What’s wrong with you, *Samir? You’re so boring!”
b. “Let’s play again!”
/b. “Let’s play again!”
c. “*Samir, you’re so cheerful!”
/c. “*Samir, you’re so cheerful!”
What did *Karim say to *Samir the next day?
/What did *Karim say to *Samir the next day?
a. “I’m sorry about yesterday. If it’s okay, let’s play together.”
/a. “I’m sorry about yesterday. If it’s okay, let’s play together.”
b. “Let’s forget about yesterday.”
/b. “Let’s forget about yesterday.”
c. “*Samir, you’re kind of weird.”
/c. “*Samir, you’re kind of weird.”
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *Karim felt when he realized his words might have hurt *Samir’s human rights?
/How do you think *Karim felt when he realized his words might have hurt *Samir’s human rights?
Also, what would you do in that situation?
/Also, what would you do in that situation?
How should you treat your classmates and friends to value their feelings?
/How should you treat your classmates and friends to value their feelings?
Let’s think about it.
/Let’s think about it.
