In the mid 70s, mom and dad packed up me, my sister and cousin for a cross country trip. Being recent immigrants, they wanted to see America the Beautiful. Aside from being hot and itchy in Needles, CA, I don’t remember much. When I look at the pictures, I smile most at the one with me in front of the flags at the UN in New York. International travel and foreign cultures have piqued my interest since I was a child. I’ve always said that in the remote possibility I would end up in NYC, I’d want to live in Midtown close to the UN.
Conservative Republicans showed their disdain for the UN by voting down the Disability Treaty. Former Senator Bob Dole (yes, one of their own), in a wheelchair, tried to persuade the Senate into ratifying this treaty. He championed the Americans with Disabilities Act. It didn’t work. The treaty needed 66 votes and it only got 61.
GOP Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma said:
“I do not support the cumbersome regulations and potentially overzealous international organizations with anti-American biases that infringe upon American society.”
OK, “The UN sucks” argument is covered.
Rick Santorum, a name I didn’t want to type again, led the fight against this treaty.
What’s so problematic here is that the provisions of this treaty could open the door for a professional or government official to override the decision that we as parents need to make for our special-needs children.
Having been blessed with Bella, and all of our wonderful children, we’ve learned that when it comes to their care, we know what’s best. CRPD threatens to take parents out of the equation and attempt to determine the right path for children they have never met.
I read the articles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He’s referring to Article 7(2):
Article 7 – Children with Disabilities
2. In all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.
To me, that is overly paranoid and a huge leap. He spread this message further – to the home-schooling community. People were up in arms about how bureaucrats from Geneva would storm into their homes and tell them how to raise their kids. The result? The treaty was shot down.
Over 150 nations have signed this treaty. Sadly, because of irrational fears of black helicopters and a New World Order, we’re not one of them.
Spinny Liberal 
December 14th, 2012 at 3:27 AM
Paranoid doesn’t begin to describe these people. Simply amazing, very unimpressive, and a throwback to Joe McCarthy mentality.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:06 PM
It is really sad to see this type of regression.
December 18th, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Uh, seeing as this (non-binding?) treaty was using existing American laws as the model, shouldn’t this really be seen as the world conforming to American standards and practices?