Your Rights

The pie chart to the right was the response you have when a clerk at a store wishes you a "Merry Christmas". I've been thinking alot this week about Rights. Some you could say are endowed by our creator, others have been given to us by government of the country in which we live. It seems as of late however, that rights have been expanding. There seems to be a whole new class of rights. You can find them nowhere in the constitution or bill of rights, yet they exist none the less, as you can find examples of them every day in the news.

One example of these new rights. Is your right not to be offended. You can this in schools, public buildings, malls, just about anywhere in the public domain. It could be a t-shirt, banner, christmas tree or anything else, but if it offends, even just one, it must be taken down. After all it has infringed on someones right not to be offended.

On the other hand I would like to offer up that in this great country of the United States of America you have the right to be offended.

You have the right to be angry, upset, or livid. You can protest. You can print t-shirts, banners and discuss your distaste in all forms of media. Yes in this great country you have the right to be offended. What a great country it is indeed.

Ladies and gentleman, do not give up this right in favor of the right not to be offended. While on the offended end of the argument it would seem as though it would be nice to stiffle that offense, which may cause legitimate anger, it in the end erodes other rights you hold so dear.

Imagine if you will, you and your family, pull up at a stoplight next to a luxury sedan. You know instantly from the limousine style tinted glass, low profile tires and hydrolics that you are about to be offended. It has happened before. Then just as you had guessed the bass line begins to hit, you can even feel it from your vehicle. Your kids giggle because they think it feels neat. However you know what is coming next, and suddenly your ears are bombarded with lyrics so vile you wish the light would stay red long enough that you could get out of your car and teach those little punks beside you a thing or two about respect.

I've been in this situation as I'm sure you have as well. It might seem like a good idea to put a stop to that expression which is almost undeniably vile. However, every sort of music offends someone, and who is to be the monitor that decides what can be played at what decible. When your Christian music concert is cancelled due to it's offense of the public you may want to reconsider your position.

Again I say. Hold fast to your freedom to be offended. To do otherwise forfeits at very least your freedom of free speech and freedom of religious worship.