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

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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.

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.

I hold both conservative and liberal views, depending on what area of interest is being addressed.

What I do very much appreciate is an author whom is objective, fair, authoratative, and is not afraid to be critical when needed. Schulz, executive director of Amnesty International USA, is such an author. His writing in this worthwhile book include thought provoking arguments questioning the cost (and I don't mean just financial) of a nation's security. It's a book that you may not easily put down once you open the pages to begin reading.

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.

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...

On the surface, "Tainted Legacy" is an excellent book; it presents valid criticism of the human rights movement and the policies of the US government, without descending into the kind of hysterics normally found in contemporary political writing.

Yet it is flawed, perhaps fatally so--regretably, to be sure, but flawed none the less.

The fact is that the people this book hopes to convince will not read it, and the people who do read it will nod their heads in agreement throughout the sections they already agreed with and self-consciously skim over those parts that hit too close to home. Many in the human rights community (of which I am involved as a student activist) fit the mold that Schulz criticizes in "Tainted Legacy"--so caught up in their own moral purity that they forget the higher goal of helping people.

We see this right now in the opposition movement to the Iraq War. I opposed the US invasion on the grounds that it was not sanctioned by the UN and that the US government lied to persuade the American people to support it. Yet many of those who I agreed with last year have now abandoned all reason and demand that coalition troops be withdrawn from Iraq--this is, to be frank, stupid, considering the political and economic situation in the country. They have let their purity get in the way of common sense.

If such people read and absorb "Tainted Legacy" in vast numbers, Schulz might get his hoped-for change in the popular view of human rights. This I doubt; it is far too easy to ignore ideas, however valid, that clash with out preconceived notions of truth, and "Tainted Legacy" will hit that barrier. While I wish this were not the case, as I agree with Schulz wholeheartedly, I find it hard to believe that either those in power or the people who put them there will read and assimilate this work; it's audience will be made up of people--like myself--who already agree with him and are willing to accept a challenge to our views. Those he needs to reach will not read the book. It's a tragedy, as they need to if the human rights movement is to retain its effectiveness, but "Tainted Legacy" will die an undeserved death, remaining only in libraries and in the personal collections of individuals, like myself, who care enough about the state of this world to base our actions and views on reason and not principle.

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.

I felt Schulz's book lacked something. He cited examples, gave numerous justifications, etc., but I don't see the other sides argument presented enough/fairly. In order to offer an argument, the so-called 'unbiased reader' should be given both sides, finding concrete flaws in the opposing sides argument. I many times found myself unengaged in his reasoning. Example: the introductory "I don't ever want to speak English again," as the reader I don't see the other sides position, nor do I see him justifying why he agreed with his P.O.V.-- I was simply expected to know why he held to the values that he did hold to. I also didn't appreciate the liberal bias. I understand that Schulz is against the violations of human rights, which I don't advocate in any way, shape, or form, on the other hand, he criticized the way the U.S. conducts their foreign policy, in particular, the present Republican Administration. In not offering the other side's argument, he leaves a loop hole for domestic security, and the possibility for that being violated via his liberal agenda.

To balance out the book as a whole, though, I felt that the rest of the book was informative. There were many in-depth critiques to situations that, given his argument (the only presented argument), justified them as lacking human rights, i.e. "What Makes Rights 'Right'".

All in all, I thought the book was an entertaining read. I may have not agreed with all of Schulz's positions, but I do feel more informed, and understanding. 'Tainted Legacy' got me thinking, and has caused many debates, and great discussions. I'd recommend this book on the simple fact that it is stimulating, and also motivating. Although I wish the book wasn't so liberal-biased, the essense of it is pure: Human Rights are important, and should not be violated, which I found to be clearly shown throughout the book.

Tainted Legacy is an unmemorable book with many glaring problems. He makes absurd, unsubstantiated statements like, "Puritan society contained at its heart contradictions that were to roil American history in one form or another for 350 years." Also, "Contrary to ill-informed right-wing opinion in the United States, the vast majority of Muslims did not applaud when the planes hit their targets on 9/11." I'm sorry, but I know no right-winger who thinks that way. He also refers to the "discriminatory practices against Muslims in the United States..." but must have forgotten to back his statement up with facts. He also gives a straw man argument of natural rights, and then concludes rights are pragmatic. Overall, this was a badly written book that left no impression in my mind.