When I read your words about the rights of individuals over the common good, I couldn’t help think of the ubiquitous “sideshows” that happen so much in our area. The incredible noise, burning of rubber tires, spewing of exhaust fumes, and danger of these events to the participants, and those innocently caught up in it, are an example of some people’s imposed individual rights to create this mayhem trumping the rights of society in general to live in peace.
Not only are we all in this together, whether we like it or not, I might add, we are in it together whether we realize it or not. But hopefully realizing this existential fact could be a step towards a more civilized appreciation of our shared rights instead of any "local" individual rights.
When I read your words about the rights of individuals over the common good, I couldn’t help think of the ubiquitous “sideshows” that happen so much in our area. The incredible noise, burning of rubber tires, spewing of exhaust fumes, and danger of these events to the participants, and those innocently caught up in it, are an example of some people’s imposed individual rights to create this mayhem trumping the rights of society in general to live in peace.
Great point! Another, sadly growing, example.
Thank you for this post! I'm reminded of Carl Sagan's perspective in "pale blue dot". https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=sagan%20pale%20blue%20dot%20pixel&mid=8F74292B8C35AA68A8E88F74292B8C35AA68A8E8&ajaxhist=0
Not only are we all in this together, whether we like it or not, I might add, we are in it together whether we realize it or not. But hopefully realizing this existential fact could be a step towards a more civilized appreciation of our shared rights instead of any "local" individual rights.
If more people realized it, that would be great. Maybe it would help if everyone watched the "Pale Blue Dot" video. Thanks for sharing it!