Ralph at politX makes an interesting point, rather colorfully:
The sort-of-elected US President blithely tells us how “lucky” we are to live in a society that “permits” marches and protests. Our own Lady Bliar simpers along like a whispering wet fart with similar messages, that we are “fortunate” to have “the freedom” to voice our dissent against that which we object to in the arena of politics. Tories–pro-Bush (not all of them by any means) and anti-Bliar, carp on along the same lines, as do New Labour Clones who remain pro-Bush and pro-Bliar. The same old tired song. How Lucky We Are to live in a society which ‘permits’ dissenting voices. Tra-la-la-la-lee.
Morons. With the possible exception of the right to trial by jury (also under threat, thank you Lady Bliar) there is not a single ‘right’ which UK subjects (tentatively) possess which was gained without a bitterly fought, sustained and sometimes bloody conflict being waged against those in positions of power who have ultimately ceded ‘rights’ only when their own powers and ruling structures have been under real and imminent threat. Politicians and rulers have never given ‘rights’ to their subjects until they realised they literally had no other choice. And with the notable exceptions of a few Quakers and philanthropic business men, no considerations for employee conditions have ever been granted willingly or with good grace by employers. All these things have come about only as a result of enormous pressures from voices of dissent.
This is certainly true. But we should remember that we had rather little influence in choosing in which country–indeed, which era–to be born. It is indeed a matter of luck to be born into a society where one’s ancestors stood up to their governments and secured priviledges which have, by virtue of their eventual normalcy, transmogrified into “rights.”
Certainly, the struggle continues. But the “right” to government-financed prescription drugs or the “right” to marry one’s homosexual lover, however worthwhile those goals may be, pales in comparison with the right to trial by jury, the right to vote, and the right to express one’s views freely.
