Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, July 2, 2009

HUMAN RIGHTS

County ordinance deserves support

 Kinuko Noborikawa's comments in her Sunday guest commentary, "'Human rights' include more than just civil rights," are well-taken, and in a perfect world, her recommendations would help make a perfect Snohomish County Human Rights Commission. Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world, and no human or civil rights commission anywhere in the United States has adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as statutory law.

We must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. And the proposed Snohomish Human Rights Commission and ordinance are very good. It is true that it re-emphasizes much of what is already in the Washington Law Against Discrimination. But it emphasizes local effort, local alternative dispute resolution and local enforcement by local people. That's the way democracy is supposed to work -- resolve local issues locally.

Besides, the State Human Rights Commission took an 18 percent cut in budget and staff during the last legislative session, and won't be able to carry out its former duties. Isn't it always true that self-reliance carries the day?

I don't live in Snohomish County, but I know many of the very good-hearted souls who worked on the Snohomish County Human Rights Ordinance. I strongly recommend supporting them and the ordinance.

Marc Brenman
Former Executive Director
Washington State Human Rights Commission
Olympia
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA