YOUR RIGHTS

Your rights end where another's begin. My rights end where yours begin.

It could be said that "rights" are not something we have, unless they are given. You may have right-of-way in traffic, but if someone on your left doesn't give it you, you don't have it.

In the past, kings had rights; priests had rights -- so did their mates. But ordinary "commoners" didn't have rights. The hoi-polloi had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the table to get them to give rights to people like you and me. And it was a milestone in political and social history when we got them.

The problem with anything given is that it can be taken away again. Anything that you give to yourself can never be taken from you without your permission.

It could also be said that everything is available to us, by right of being.

We have every right, and we have no right.........that's what-is. Does it matter? Only if there's something we want to be "right" about. Do you have to be right, or would you rather be happy?

Perhaps if we worried a little less about our rights, and got on with the business of enjoying what we have.


Over to you..........

THE ONLY CRIME......

The only crime is Theft.

Theft is the taking of something that is not willingly given.

Murder is the theft of life. Kidnap is the theft of liberty. Abuse is the theft of self-esteem and dignity, amongst other things.

Theft disempowers the thief -- always. It only ever disempowers the "victim" if he/she gives consent to the disempowerment.

A Japanese master was meditating late one evening when a thief stole into his house, brandishing his sword. He threatened to kill the master unless he gave him all his valuables. "Put up your sword," the master said calmly, "you may hurt yourself. My purse is over there on the sideboard; help yourself, but please leave me some money for my rent tomorrow."

Astonished, the thief did as he was bidden and turned for the door. "Don't forget to say 'thank you' ", prompted the master. The thief mumbled his thanks, and left.

The next day the village was buzzing -- several people had been robbed. When the master appeared, they asked him if he, too, had been robbed. "Why, no," replied the master. "I had a visitor; he was a little careless with his sword, but he seemed pleasant enough. We exchanged some words, I gave him some money, he thanked me and left."

The master chose not to be robbed. He chose not to be a victim.


I don't know if I could yet be that detached, but I get the point.