--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot allow some people to be left at…" description: "\"We cannot allow some people to be left at the back of the human rights bus... We must ensure the rights of individual groups or people -be they indigen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/matthew-coon-come-84237_altars_we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-a_1141320.png" --- # We cannot allow some people to be left at the back of the… ![“We cannot allow some people to be left at the back of the human rights bus... We must ensure the rights of individual groups or people -be they indigenous peoples, or peoples of Asian or African or American descent, or Jews or Muslims- are not sacrificed on an altar of progress for some while…” quote by Matthew Coon Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/matthew-coon-come-84237_altars_we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-a_1141320.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/matthew-coon-come-84237_altars_we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-a_1141320.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/matthew-coon-come-84237_altars_we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-a_1141320.png) > “We cannot allow some people to be left at the back of the human rights bus... We must ensure the rights of individual groups or people -be they indigenous peoples, or peoples of Asian or African or American descent, or Jews or Muslims- are not sacrificed on an altar of progress for some while there are setbacks to others.” Matthew Coon Come ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for protecting minority rights against majority-driven progress that can marginalize vulnerable groups. **In simple terms:** Protect minorities when pursuing progress. Key Takeaway Ensure inclusive policies for all groups. Themes human rights inclusion social justice Mood concerned determined Type activist political When to use this quote - policy making - community organizing - legal reform - education campaigns Key Concepts minority protection collective responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance development with minority protections? - What mechanisms safeguard against sacrificing rights for progress? A Different Perspective Balancing progress with equity is complex and may face political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/) [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Descent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descent/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Indigenous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous/) [Indigenous people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous-people/) [Indigenous Peoples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous-peoples/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Jew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jew/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Setback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setback/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“Both Chiang and Egan agree and make clear in their fiction that at the point where we create anything resembling lifelike AIs, we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burnham/both-chiang-and-egan-agree-and-make-clear-in-their-fiction-that-at/) Karen Burnham > [For decades in America, there has been an effort to ensure that the rights of those who are not sane are the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/for-decades-in-america-there-has-been-an-effort-to-ensure-that-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [We are now facing a difficult situation in Peru, where there are attempts to cut back the territorial rights of the indigenous peoples, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evaristo-nugkuag/we-are-now-facing-a-difficult-situation-in-peru-where-there-are/) Evaristo Nugkuag > [The Ocaina and many of the other indigenous peoples of the Amazon were nearly wiped out during the rubber boom in the late 19th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cole/the-ocaina-and-many-of-the-other-indigenous-peoples-of-the-amazon/) [Tom Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cole/) > [The idea of regularly acknowledging our indebtedness to the natural world and giving thanks for the many gifts we receive from it, or considering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-cook/the-idea-of-regularly-acknowledging-our-indebtedness-to-the-natural/) [Charlie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-cook/) > [The true essence of reconciliation is more than making friends with nonindigenous people. Our motto is united Australia, one that respects the land and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-huggins/the-true-essence-of-reconciliation-is-more-than-making-friends-with/) [Jackie Huggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-huggins/) > [As Indigenous peoples, we know there is more to the world. We know spirits exist. We know as women, because we're especially attuned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/as-indigenous-peoples-we-know-there-is-more-to-the-world-we-know/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [Sensitivity to nature is not an innate attribute of indigenous peoples. It is a consequence of adaptive choices that have resulted in the development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-davis/sensitivity-to-nature-is-not-an-innate-attribute-of-indigenous/) [Wade Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-davis/) > [If one looks into the genealogies of many 'old families,' one discovers episodes of slave trafficking, bootlegging, gun running, opium trading, falsified land claims,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/if-one-looks-into-the-genealogies-of-many-old-families-one-discovers/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [The provision of basic material needs is not sufficient to make minority groups and indigenous peoples feel they are truly part of the greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-provision-of-basic-material-needs-is-not-sufficient-to-make/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [And what they believe in real life is complicated. Theodor Koch-Grunberg wrote in his diary that indigenous peoples in the Amazon see these outsiders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cole/and-what-they-believe-in-real-life-is-complicated-theodor-koch/) [Tom Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cole/) > [Look, you are interested in trying to make sure that governments keep a clean environment, have regard for the lifestyles of indigenous peoples, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/look-you-are-interested-in-trying-to-make-sure-that-governments-keep/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [“The indigenous peoples of the great tourist spots seem to lose their souls. All cultural, religious, and political efforts and ideals are crippled since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-indigenous-peoples-of-the-great-tourist-spots-seem-to-lose-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Matthew Coon Come > [I believe that the people are looking for a leader who has experience, who has courage, who has vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/i-believe-that-the-people-are-looking-for-a-leader-who-has-experience/) Matthew Coon Come > [Of course I believe that I am very approachable, I am friendly, I care about my family, I care about my community, people believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/of-course-i-believe-that-i-am-very-approachable-i-am-friendly-i-care/) Matthew Coon Come Explore all 3 Matthew Coon Come quotes ## More Altars quotes > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [he cult of productivity has its place, but worshipping at its altar daily robs us of the very capacity for joy and wonder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/he-cult-of-productivity-has-its-place-but-worshipping-at-its-altar/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [This is the sacrifice: the endless possibility that is offered up on the altar of the form...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/this-is-the-sacrifice-the-endless-possibility-that-is-offered-up-on/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [When a buddha is painted, not only a clay altar or lump of earth is used, but the thirty-two marks, a blade of grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/when-a-buddha-is-painted-not-only-a-clay-altar-or-lump-of-earth-is/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [And in any preaching you do, admonish the people concerning repentance, and that nobody can be saved except he who receives the most holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/and-in-any-preaching-you-do-admonish-the-people-concerning-repentance/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [The revolting details of childbirth had been hidden from me with such care that I was as surprised as I was horrified, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/the-revolting-details-of-childbirth-had-been-hidden-from-me-with-such/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [It is by far the most elegant worship, hardly excepting the Greek mythology. What with incense, pictures, statues, altars, shrines, relics, and the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/it-is-by-far-the-most-elegant-worship-hardly-excepting-the-greek/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [For me it's really tough because you have to go to that place where you really, really don't want to go to or revisit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-chestnut/for-me-it-s-really-tough-because-you-have-to-go-to-that-place-where/) [Morris Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-chestnut/) > [For piety lies not in being often seen turning a veiled head to stones, nor in approaching every altar, nor in lying prostratebefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/for-piety-lies-not-in-being-often-seen-turning-a-veiled-head-to/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [It is when we are in misery that we revere the gods; the prosperous seldom approach the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silius-italicus/it-is-when-we-are-in-misery-that-we-revere-the-gods-the-prosperous/) [Silius Italicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silius-italicus/) > [Pope Gelasius in his ninth letter (chap. 26) to the bishops of Lucania condemned the evil practice which had been introduced of women serving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xiv/pope-gelasius-in-his-ninth-letter-chap-26-to-the-bishops-of-lucania/) [Pope Benedict XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xiv/) [Browse all 329 Altars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot allow some people to be left at the back of the human rights bus... We must ensure the rights of individual groups or people -be they indigenous peoples, or peoples of Asian or African or American descent, or Jews or Muslims- are not sacrificed on an altar of progress for some while there are setbacks to others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Coon Come" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-at-the-back-of-the-human/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Altars" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-at-the-back-of-the-human/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/matthew-coon-come-84237_altars_we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-a_1141320.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/matthew-coon-come-84237_altars_we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-a_1141320.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/matthew-coon-come-84237_altars_we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-a_1141320.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We cannot allow some people to be left at the back of the human rights bus... We must ensure the rights of…” — Matthew Coon Come", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matthew Coon Come", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-coon-come/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We cannot allow some people to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-at-the-back-of-the-human/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/we-cannot-allow-some-people-to-be-left-at-the-back-of-the-human/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```