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Thought of the day

2010/06/26
When it comes to issues that affect just about any society, part of the spotlight is shed on pressure groups. The things they press forward as “rights”. Now, it can be rather irksome when some pressure groups defend what they call their rights. Some of the causes defended by them are justified ; others seem rather baseless. But in most of these campaigns to raise awareness, I wonder if they’re actually raising awareness. More than raising awareness, they’re actually stoking the fire and provoking sentiments.

On the subject of rights, this is all I have to say :

The word “rights” is not defined as “the freedom to do anything and everything under the sun”. Rights are the things that protect our dignity here on earth. Your rights can only exist when my rights are protected, and vice versa. This means that in order for us to be treated with dignity, we must ourselves treat others with unconditional love and respect, and expect the least in return.

It’s for the lack of unconditional love and respect that most, if not all rights campaigns in the world, are hate-fuelled. And worse, we get the impression that their stance goes along the lines of “It’s me, me and ME. I have to live. I need a life,” without thinking of the others around them.

Rights don’t, and shouldn’t, encourage people to be selfish. Rights don’t, and shouldn’t, encourage people to hurt each other, physically, mentally or emotionally. Rights are not created so that each man can live on his own. Rights aren’t made in order for people to disfigure themselves, or even others. The first declarations of human rights (the first being in France, if I remember correctly) were created with this thought in mind : people can’t live without each other. You need me, and I need you ; together, we are complete. We build, we sow the seeds of love, and we reap what we sow, and in thanks, we give back. We are a nation.

Today’s defenders of human rights seem to be lacking this spirit, even though the declarations of human rights have been made with the people at large in mind. Oh, how my heart aches.

8 comments:

Joshua at: June 29, 2010 at 12:45 AM said...

Heh. I read this line in a devotional, recently:

"Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. (http://www.myutmost.org/06/0627.html)"

I think this Scripture is also apt:

"Many crave and seek the ruler's favor, but the wise man for justice from the Lord. (Proverbs 29:26)"

You're right in your thinking, though: the problem with all these declarations of rights is that the source of it is selfishness.

James 4:1-3
What leads to strife and how do conflicts originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? You are jealous and covet and your desires go unfulfilled; you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [Or] you do ask and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.

Troisnyx at: June 29, 2010 at 1:15 AM said...

I was thinking of this on Trinity Sunday, which fell a few weeks ago. And then... I kept on reading news of how people dared to pervert young children's minds with graphic sex-ed simply because they had the "right" to do so... Well, there are a few other situations which I won't name, but what they did there was plain selfish. I soon realised that the same applied for all other rights campaigns. >_>

Joshua at: June 29, 2010 at 2:33 AM said...

Graphic sex-ed? I'm guessing it was more along the lines of sexual intercourse than anatomy.

Personally, I think too much is laid upon the school system. There's this weirdness, today--this strive for "education". Education for what? Of what? The majority of a child's education should be learned from his mom and dad, watching what they do, being taught, asking questions and getting honest--preferably truthful--answers. They should be taught the Word of God. Instead, they are sent to schools, the majority of which are staffed with godless teachers, who in turn pass on their godless beliefs--for how we belief influences how we do everything. And kids are taught "sexual education" by whom? By men and women that have long denied that "you must not commit adultery". "Wait until marriage--or use condoms--let me show you how to put them on, thirteen year old kid." Why? Because they care about their emotional maturity? No. If they cared about that, they would more severely stress the seriousness of human relationships, accountability, consequences, and the Love of God. Instead, they stress (rarely) abstinence and (usually) contraceptives because they don't want to personally deal with the consequences. It's a band-aid on a tumor--it fixes nothing and only looks really stupid. At the same time, they teach that humans are merely animals. They have so long looked away from God to the things of the earth, that they take their instruction from dogs. "Sex is just something you do. Enjoy yourself, but be safe."

Troisnyx at: June 29, 2010 at 4:23 AM said...

"Thirteen year old kid ?" One report I read said "seven year old kid".

I share your pain on this whole thing. It's not a matter of just doing what pleases you and then not telling people about the consequences. The whole story featuring Absalom (which I actually read yesterday) was a story of lust turning to hatred. Those people are sowing hatred, albeit in a subtle manner.

Joshua at: June 30, 2010 at 10:28 PM said...

Seven? Yikes.

Amnon lusted after and then hated his sister, Tamar. Absalom hated then killed Amnon. Then, for a short while, deposed his father, David. Then was killed by Joab. Then Joab was killed by Solomon. Not a very pleasant family, really. :P

Troisnyx at: July 2, 2010 at 3:13 AM said...

You said it. o.O
I'm at the part where Absalom was killed by Joab... >_>

J. Morgan Floyd at: July 15, 2010 at 3:51 AM said...

I did a bit of reading, and found that the first such declaration was made in Britain, though the United States and France followed about a three-quarter century thereafter. Regardless, your argument still stands -- human rights do not include actions what harm others, neither the right to do harm to oneself, nor the right to upset ancient traditions. While I may want the religious faith that many of your readers have, I oppose the legalised murder of unborn children (abortion, at whatever age), the condemning of prisoners to death (capital punishment), and you are quite right to say that many campaigns raise negative emotions rather than "awareness", whatever that is.

Troisnyx at: July 15, 2010 at 3:59 AM said...

True, true. I mean look at the situation now - champions of abortion KNOW FULL WELL (oh dear, caps are needed) that human life starts from the moment of conception, and yet, they hide it simply because they want to pervert what they call a "freedom of choice". You and I have a freedom of choice for ourselves, and we'd definitely choose life. Real feminism, or even the notion of feminity, does not kill.

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