Rights and Responsibilities

A few years ago I served a term on a local city council. I quickly learned how varied the interests of even a small town could be. I wasn’t excited about running for the position, but felt compelled to get involved in something I cared about. I also wanted to provide a wordless sermon to my children about making a difference rather than just complaining about how things were. The first two years of service went by without much pain. There wasn’t a lot of controversy, but neither did we get much done. I spent my time trying to learn the processes and policies that governed the running of an incorporated city. By the end of the two years I had been elected council president and had been approached to run for mayor. I didn’t desire the position of mayor and convinced others who I thought would do a good job to run instead. The next two years were a much different experience.

In the second half of my term the city was faced with some very difficult decisions on upgrading infrastructures. We also revised a number of controversial ordinances such as the city junk ordinance and weed abatement. While all but the most radical individualists agreed there was a need to have ordinances that limited what an individual could do on or with his/her property, those limitations soon became flashpoints when applied in particular and not just in principle. In other words, we as a city should make my neighbor clean up this and fix that, but don’t tell me what to do on my property! The debates were extended and often emotional. Every concession given in the wording of an ordinance seemed only to create new concerns from one end of the perceptual spectrum or the other. The feelings got so heated that I was even referred to as a Municipal Natzi in the local press. I also quickly learned that people were quick to quote laws that either didn’t exist or were grossly misinterpreted, including the state and federal constitution. Well, at the end of my term I gladly let others take my place, convincing them to run rather than seek re-election. While at the time I thought I would stay more involved, I haven’t—a matter that carries a certain amount of shame with it and that I’m in the process of fixing.

Where is all this going? The great difficulty in living in a society is balancing the trade offs between individual rights and responsibilities to the community. It has been said that we are living in an age where everybody is quick to point out their rights, and very slow to admit their responsibilities. I am a great believer in rights. Our law-given rights protect us from excesses of the majority and the corrupted use of governmental power. The problem comes in determining what is and is not a right. The U.S. constitution says that the government shall make no law concerning the establishment of a religion. Does that mean that there must be a strict separation between government and all religious beliefs or practices? Some have suggested that we can’t legislate morality, but aren’t all laws based on somebody’s definition of what is right and wrong? The constitution states that the government, in order to maintain a well regulated militia, shall not infringe on the right to bear arms. Does that mean that we shouldn’t require a background check and registration of guns? No place in the constitution does it mention a right of privacy. Privacy rights have been inferred from other constitutional language and the development of judicial interpretation over the years. How much can or should a government know about its citizens in order to protect them and regulate criminal behavior? These questions go on and on, and while we may have our personal opinions, who is it that must draw the line in the sand?

A French philosopher stated that when America ceased to be good, she would cease to be great. Others have suggested that apathy will be our ultimate downfall, meaning that the less people get involved, the greater the possibility that a minority will be able to exercise tyranny. Notice that neither idea suggests that we will be conquered by an army or driven underground by fundamentalist terrorists. Our strength, and our weakness, is in the degree we recognize and act upon our responsibilities as citizens and members of a society.

What are our responsibilities? I feel they fall under the following areas: Knowledge, Involvement, and Vigilance. Let’s start with knowledge. While nobody expects every individual to be a lawyer, we should be familiar with the laws of our land in general and know how to look them up. Every citizen should be familiar with the constitution, including its history and how it has evolved and been judicially interpreted over the years. Beware of making quick assumptions based on your own interpretation of the wording. We should understand how our local, state, and federal governments are organized and work. Who are your representatives? Do you know how to contact them? We should keep abreast of issues and legislation that we care about or that may affect us. And may I suggest that we aren’t too quick to form an opinion. Take the time to learn the different sides of an issue. When you can argue a point either way and understand the ramifications of action not only on yourself but on others, including those you may disagree with, then you are approaching a point you can have an informed opinion. Otherwise, your opinions are nothing more than ignorant babble—regardless of how emotionally you may express them.

Involvement is the key to a successful democracy. I had a political science teacher who taught that if you did nothing more than vote, even if your vote was informed and not just based on party affiliation, then you would be nothing more than a C student in your governmental responsibilities. I’m not suggesting that everybody run for office, although doing so isn’t a bad idea, but get involved in local caucuses and committees. Speak out on issues that you care about. Help somebody you believe in campaign. Outside of elections, write letters to representatives. Attend local council meetings. Write letters to the editor, although I ask you to be civil and reasoned and avoid such terms and Municipal Natzi. J As much as we complain about those we elect to represent us, I firmly believe that our government can never be more than what we allow it to be. If government is corrupt and our representatives not being representative, then we must bear the responsibility for allowing it to happen, which brings us to the final responsibility.

Vigilance can have many meetings. In this context I think it has two primary applications. First, we must remain up to date on what is happening in our society and be ready to react and act appropriately. As a recent movie suggested, governments should be afraid of the people, not the other way around. But why should governments care about those who don’t care enough to turn off the latest mindless reality show and read a paper, watch a news program, or browse legitimate informational web sites. To the degree we don’t care to watch, we have little to complain about what happens. Vigilance also means that we take part in maintaining a law abiding society. There will never be enough police organizations to stay on top of all that is happening. While I’m not suggesting that we go peeping in neighbors’ windows, I am suggesting that we stay aware of what goes on around us and not be afraid to report something suspicious. Join neighborhood watches, organize with others in your neighborhood who care to make a difference and not allow destructive elements to spread unchallenged. While you should avoid violence in both word and action, don’t be afraid to stand up for what you care about and believe.

In summary, while our society should not abandon the rights we give to the vulnerable, our ultimate success will depend not on our rights, but how we exercise our responsibilities. In Kennedy’s words, slightly altered, think not what your country can do for you, but what your responsibilities are to your country, your communities, and our society at large. As we learn what we need to learn, act ethically and with compassion, and maintain our vigilance, then the powers of destruction, from within or without, will never gain the power overcome us.