What’s the difference between rights and privileges?
In today’s world, we hear the word “rights” tossed out quite a bit.
What is the difference between a right and a privilege?
To me I like I like to think of the difference between a right and privilege like this:
Lets say you’re out for a little boat trip, say a 3-hour tour. Your boat crashes on an uncharted island but there are inhabitants that come out to greet you.
Do you, as a stranger to them, have the right to demand they take care of your injuries? No, you don’t. If they offer to take care of your injuries, that makes it a privilege, not a right, and you should be very grateful for their assistance and not view it as if you are entitled to it.
Do you have the right to demand they educate your children? No, you don’t. Therefore, education is a privilege, not a right.
Do you have a right to keep your property? Yes, you do.
Do you have a right to defend yourself if attacked? Yes, you do.
Do you have a right to attack the natives to take their property? No, you do not. That’s not a privilege either. It’s a violation of their rights and may cause you to lose one or more of your rights such as your right to life or liberty.
Do you have a right to vote in their elections? Certainly not.
Do you have a right to burn down their village because you learn that some of their ancestors enslaved your ancestors? No you don’t.
Social justice is the false idea that you have a right to violate another person or their property because of your individual circumstances. This doctrine leads to societal breakdown as individuals envious of other’s property or lifestyle, seek to pull down and level another person, instead of applying themselves to the effort necessary to overcome their personal circumstances. It’s always easier to destroy than build.
There are some that try to convince us that our personal, individual rights can be modified by the government or by a panel of judges. Any person with a conscience can recognize this is false. Rights can’t come from government or they can be taken by the government. A government of the people and by the people derives its powers from the consent of the governed, not by overpowering the governed with rights the people don’t possess themselves. Rights come from God and if you don’t believe in God, you can still feel the truth of the fairness of how this scenario works. We don’t seek to dominate and control each other, but allow everyone the freedom to choose how to act as long as their actions don’t interfere with others’ freedom to act.
