Do "rights" come with "responsibilities"?

1. 74

   miss_jkimposted 12 years ago

   Do "rights" come with "responsibilities"?
   
   Americans are taught about their "rights" as American Citizens. Shouldn't they also be taught about the "responsibilities" attached to those "rights"?

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2. 84

   Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 12 years ago

   I think we ARE taught.  If we're lucky enough to come from a good home, we are taught many truths and principles in the home.  The schools teach many good principles, too, but cannot and should not be expected to usurp the parental teachings which a child needs to learn.  It's a process.  Also there are laws in place -- federal laws, state laws and city/community statutes.

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3. 60

   Josakposted 12 years ago

   I agree with Pamella, we are taught a social contract, indeed many of those rights we have come attached to the responsabilities mentioned ie. The right to presumption of innocense is directly tied to our responsability to obey the law.

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4. 57

   geordmcposted 12 years ago

   Yes, our "rights" do come with "responsibilities". However, it is our govts ''responsibility" to protect our "rights" instead of trampling all over them as in the case of "Obamacare" and the "NDAA" which are taking away half of your rights. Both "acts" are unconstitutional since they infringe on our rights.

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5. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Yes, obviously, we should. However, then you would have to define what our responsibilities are. That would cause plenty more debates and arguments. For every right we are given, there are responsibilities so that those rights may not be abused.

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6. 69

   onegoodwomanposted 12 years ago

   Yes, I think that they should..................
   
   
   Memorial Day, 4th of July,  and Veterans Day....................they have a meaning.
   
   
   Those things should be taught and honored.............
   
   
   In the headlines today, we see the outrage of the burning of the Quaran, and yet, the burning of the American Flag is somehow justified.
   
   If you want the privelage of free speach............you must speak
   
   If you want the privelage of a drivers license, you must obey the rules of the road
   
   If you want the privelage of free flowing water..............you have to pay the trench digger.
   
   
   Your " right" is paid for by someone's responsibilty.   Pay that person, their just worth.

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7. 60

   aza yueposted 12 years ago

   Rights come with responsibilities all most. I agree with you that  people need to be taught about responsibilities, not only rights.

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8. 60

   veritorogueposted 12 years ago

   Benjamin Franklin wrote, "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom." Our rights don't come with responsibility but responsibly exercising our rights will help to preserve them. Opponents of certain rights use every negative example of people acting within their rights to curtail these. A perfect example of this is free speech zones on college campuses. The entirety of the United States is a free speech zone based on the Constitution but ideological tyrants have watered down free speech rights because of the potential for offense. Gun rights are another example. The Constitution guarantees me the right to possess firearms to defend my family, my life, my property and my Liberty. I exercise my gun rights responsibly but many people do not. Because of this gun rights opponents have amunition (pun intended) to assault my rights and leave me vulnerable to criminals and tyrants alike.
   
   P.S. We must be careful when assigning rights to things that require resources like healthcare. When this happens responsibilities are also imposed like having lifestyle mandates to include the responsibility to die cheaply.

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9. 74

   miss_jkimposted 12 years ago

   veritorogue, this has to be the best response I've received so far. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

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10. 78

    Beata Stasakposted 12 years ago

    I stronly believe that yes and from very yound age, living in Australia, Australians are taught about their rights from very young age but sometime their responsibilities are forgotten to meniton on the way...and then we all have to live with consequences of this disproportional education...

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11. 59

    Ferraoposted 12 years ago

    Yes rights come with responsibilities, Am I a responsible Citizen? a question one must ask oneself. The problem is that for most people, we are aware of our rights and fight for it but we don't realize that we have responsibilities to fulfill. There is always a give and take. World would have been a much better place if we were to fulfill of our responsibilities and just not demand for our rights.

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12. 60

    JamesGrantSmithposted 10 years ago

    Yes if people abuse their rights, then the government tries to take them back, if people exercise their rights properly they get what they want out of life.
    
    The responsibility to act responsibility is imperative when it comes to rights for this reason and others.

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