• William Schulz, the former executive director of Amnesty International USA, spoke in the Alumni Memorial Union Tuesday.
• Schulz said the Obama administration has many challenges ahead in human rights — some that can be fixed quickly and others that will take time.
• He said there are two different traditions in the United States.

The former executive director of Amnesty International USA addressed the human rights challenges the Obama administration will face in a lecture Tuesday afternoon in the Alumni Memorial Union.

The Office of International Education hosted William Schulz, the U.S. head of the human rights group from 1994 to 2006.

Schulz said there are two traditions in the United States. One tradition stemmed from Puritan settlers, who wanted to build a "city upon a hill." Schultz said they wanted America to become a model for others in the world to follow.

Schulz said the Bush administration followed this tradition, forcing the values held by American society upon other societies.

"The U.S. has been a model for the respect of fundamental freedoms," Schulz said. "Other countries and people envy us for this, but we cannot force others to only follow our model."

The other tradition carried on by American society is a sense of generosity and being virtuous, Schulz said.

He said one example of this tradition was Roger Williams, a Puritan settler who suggested colonists should pay Indians for land they had taken. Williams was exiled to Rhode Island by other Puritans.

Schulz offered other examples of Americans throughout history who acted on this tradition, which is still seen today in those who work against discrimination, he said.

Schulz said the damage done to the reputation of the U.S. is repairable, and some things can be done right away. The Obama administration can start by paying back United Nations dues, he said. The U.S. can ratify and support the International Court of Justice and other conventions on the protection of human rights, he said.

"Other problems that need to be resolved will be hard to repair," Schulz said.

Such problems include the crisis in Darfur. But, he said, the only possible solution is through military intervention. The war in Iraq has made it almost impossible for the U.S. to use military force in other parts of the world, even if it is for a righteous cause, he said.

Another problem is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said the U.S. has failed to be a true mediator, and its support of Israel has caused the loss of Israel's credibility with the rest of the world. A solution can be created to end the conflict, but the problem lies in the details of the agreement, Schulz said.

Among the 15 event attendees, Kathleen Scott, a junior in the College of Communication, said seeing Schulz speak made her feel that she is on the right path in her peace and justice major. Scott and other students are working to get Marquette to offer an interdisciplinary minor in human rights.

Anthony Damiano, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said he enjoyed seeing Schulz speak because Schulz looked at U.S. policies from a universal approach. Damiano said other speakers are sometimes too critical of the U.S. and ignore what the country has done well.