Talk:Human rights
How do human rights relate to civil rights, a phrase that Americans tend to prefer? --Robert Merkel
"civil rights" are not negative. Since the USA rejects the doctrine of positive human rights, and since some positive rights are necessary in a pseudo-democratic society, it's invented a category called "civil rights" to take up the slack.
- Human rights are rights you have through being human. Civil rights are rights you have through being a member of a society. Loosely. DJ Clayworth 18:32, 6 Apr 2004 (UTC)
If your definition of "civil rights" is correct you should add it to thie article.
"Within the modern American liberal political culture"
Isn't this a little Americo-centric? What about European human rights law?
The word "liberal" may be a bit difficult to understand for non-Americans in that context. In the US, it means, grossly speaking, left-wing, but in Europe it may mean right-wing proponents of laissez-faire economics. I've included a link to disimbiguate the word. David.Monniaux 17:27, 25 Sep 2003 (UTC)