There is something deeply wrong - even ridiculous - about the United States government's recent pledge to the U.N. "Human Rights Council" that our country will improve its human rights record.
In 2009, the Obama administration unwisely made our nation a member of that U.N. panel, which is filled with nations that grossly violate the rights of their own citizens. Appallingly oppressive nations such as Communist China, Communist Cuba and Saudi Arabia are on the council - sitting in judgment of the human rights records of far freer nations.
So it is beyond absurd for the United States to have submitted its human rights record for review and condemnation by such a "council."
That certainly does not mean that human rights abuses cannot occur in this country. They can and, sadly, sometimes do. When that occurs, the offenses should be punished swiftly and firmly, in accordance with U.S. law. But such violations are not standard government procedure here, as they are in all too many oppressed nations.
There will always be room for improvement in the treatment that any nation affords to its people. But the U.N. Human Rights Council is in no position to judge whether a country's record on protecting rights is good or bad.