Crime Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““The burden therefore rests with the American legal community and with the American human-rights lobbies and non-governmental organizations. They can either persist in averting their gaze from the egregious impunity enjoyed by a notorious war criminal and lawbreaker, or they can become seized by the exalted standards to which they continually hold everyone else. The current state of suspended animation, however, cannot last. If the courts and lawyers of this country will not do their duty, we shall watch as the victims and survivors of this man pursue justice and vindication in their own dignified and painstaking way, and at their own expense, and we shall be put to shame.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Address on Human Rights, 2005
Warns that legal and activist communities must confront war crimes or face moral failure, urging active pursuit of justice.
In simple terms: Justice requires confronting impunity.
Key Takeaway
Stand up for victims.
Themes
justice
human rights
accountability
Mood
urgent
critical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- courtrooms
- NGO advocacy
- international tribunals
Key Concepts
legal ethics
activism
moral responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do lawyers have in war crimes?
- How can societies prevent impunity?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems may be constrained by politics.
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