Personal Narrative: The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights

A “right” is a word only given meaning in the context of actual or imagined oppression. The “right” to vote, the “right” from slavery and forced labor, and the “right” to reign all conjure up differences in their applications. Who and when are the most pertinent differentiations between the haves and have-nots. A right is a right only if it can be taken away through actions or ideologies and granted by a higher power; be that God, the Law, or an imposer of oppression. While humanity may have innate rights such as those listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), no human is born with rights. “Rights” need a bestower. Like food, shelter, and community, rights too are essential for one to live a life free of the burden of others. But just like food, shelter, and community, rights are not a self-made possession. Through either education or endowment, a right is an external idea that requires others to give or trample. It is a two-player game.
The notion of an inalienable right is an oxymoron to me. Everything can be violated or protected; there just needs to be a higher or stronger force than yourself to …show more content…
A right should be, but too often is not, used to mean everyone. Yes, all life innately should have right X, Y, and Z. But is a right anything more than a flowery idea unless it truly is universal and realized to its full definition? Who is this prime mover of my rights? Was it God? Then why are people born into poverty, slavery, addiction, or deprived of certain physical or mental capabilities? Was simply being born human an interference between my innate “right” and my actualized reality? How can being a human both violate and grant yourself rights? Is it Government? Usually anyone who isn’t a land owning, educated male can attest to their history of oppression mandated by the government as well as to the need of government to obtain those rights. Is it Man? Is it