OUR RIGHTS
I often find myself questioning the public understanding of exactly what constitutes our “rights” as citizens of this nation.
The general view of the term has changed in recent decades. It, like so many other designations, has been both over-used and and abused, I fear. The idea of listing certain things as “our rights” has been twisted and, far too often, tailored to fit the wishful wants of special groups and individuals. The term has been so mis-identified and mis-applied by groups and individuals to suit personal desires that is has acquired a sub-title in a preface word “civil”.We have, thus, created a new element of confusion and now we feel it necessary to decide what may be “natural” an and others as “legalistic.”
Our feelings are reflected in the actions of much of the media when we see a tendency to guard against being mis-read. Often, when the term ”rights” is prefaced by a limiting term - “0ur”, “Black”, “Afro-American” or “Hispanic” or others of that nature, the entire concept of “right” becomes clouded and limited. Bounds are set and re-set.. “My rights” can come to mean many things and narrow racial, social, economic, religious and downright quirky departures refuse to surrender to any modifications.
At times, sensible men and women urge us to think on grander terms, but this, too, leads to trouble. If one thinks of the Christian religion gives him the right to evangelize the world of people of other groups who claim identical rights or worse. This, in turn, injures other unifying fact as geographic placement or linguistic associations.
Internationally, we see some fine examples of how nationalistic tendencies can undermine efforts toward unity. They have done so repeatedly and caused severe divisive friction. The old League of Nation – while it was a noble effort – has been replaced with and even more cumbersome amalgam pf nations. It is ironic that simply by exchanging just two letters the title is made to read: “Un-tied Nations.” As many nation, some not as large as many cities around the world, insist on certain “rights” which , they feel have accrued to them simply by membership in the co-operative effort.
It is time we re-think what we really;mean when we speak of our “rights.” That is especially true of those we have come to classify as being “civil.” We need to be more aware of our standards here at home, so we can better judge the claims of others to the same or equal rights.
A.L.M. September 9, 2003 [c443wds]
