Human Rights Concept Is a Historical One

Eduardo Garrigues (“Parade Unites 2 Worlds,” Dec. 19) claims that one should not apply contemporary values to judge the genocide and atrocities against Native Americans that began with Columbus’ arrival 500 years ago. This argument, used by others to excuse the horrors of slavery, presupposes that the belief in human rights only recently took hold, so the conquistadors just did not know any better when they killed and tortured the Indians.

Garrigues omits both the record throughout history of people protesting against the carnage of “popular” wars and conquests, and the teachings of Christianity, which the conquistadors claimed to be spreading, that make clear the sanctity of all human life. These values are not “contemporary,” but ancient, and we must hold those who rejected them because of greed, fanaticism, or common prejudice, to the same standard, regardless of the historical era.

CLIFFORD OLIN

Alhambra