According to Webster, one of the descriptions/definitions of ‘right’ is:
“being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper; acting or
judging in accordance with truth or fact.”
It also reminds you of the scripture of what it is God seeks from us, “…to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Zephaniah 2:3 adds righteousness and humility. Perhaps not the definition we typically think of when this word is bandied about? ‘My’ is typically the adjective and subject when right is stated.
When you look at that definition you see the phrase, ‘being in accordance’. What does this mean? Who does this? Yep, you. You act in accordance with what is just, good, or proper; with truth or fact. This doesn’t sound like it is directed toward self-serving: what you think you want. Seems that the bottom line is – My rights can never be exercised at the expense of another’s rights. Typically this is not the focus. People tend to defend their ‘rights’ even without ever defining the word. And they rarely look at what the impact on others is when I exert ‘my rights’.
Webster defines ‘responsibility’:
“a duty or task that you are required or expected to do; something
that you should do because it is morally right, legally required, etc.;
the state of being the person who caused something to happen.”
(underlining mine)
Accountable, reliable, trustworthiness are some of the other descriptive words. I don’t believe it can only be me who see the relationship and mutual descriptions of these two words – rights and responsibilities. Whether we like it or not, accept it or not there are certain qualities – morally right, legally required – that should be the reason to exercise our rights and responsibilities. Equally important is the qualifier – our rights cannot be greater than the person next to us.
So often we get this the wrong way round, especially the subject of the phrase. Too often we look For our rights rather than At our responsibilities. Or we focus only on the word – our. This phrase should probably read, “Responsibilities and rights”, then maybe we would begin changing our focus and perception. Rights seem to be the foundation for the action – responsibilities. I would argue that if we spent our time concerned with fulfilling our responsibilities, that we would find our rights.
