Information Related to "Individual Rights Vs. Societal Rights"
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Sidebar: Individual Rights Vs. Societal Rights
In the wake of the tragedy at Columbine High School, people naturally try to determine
who is to blame in an effort to prevent future tragedies. After all, something went
dreadfully wrong. At stake in the raging debate over culpability is the timeless
question of individual freedoms vs. societal protection--concepts that divide entire
nations.
Opinions vary as to who was responsible for this most recent tragedy. Some say it
occurred because other students shunned the two teenage gunmen. Others blame it on
violent video and computer games. Some believe schoolteachers and administrators
should have known of the potential danger and prevented it. Still others say the
parents should have known about their children's preoccupation with guns, bombs and
killing and dealt with it before the tragedy could have occurred. Then there is the
choice the two gunmen themselves made: They chose an evil course of action and carried
it out.
Finally, the Bible reveals the existence of a "spirit who now works in the sons
of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). This invisible power is at work in our societies
and "deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9).
Although we may never identify who was most at fault in this catastrophe, all of
the above-noted factors undoubtedly had some influence. But now comes the difficult
question: Could anything have prevented the massacre? It's easy to say somebody
should have done something. But who should have done it, and what should he have
done?
Citizens of Western nations, including the United States, view things through the
lens of human rights and individual freedoms. Citizens are free to pursue personal
endeavors free from governmental supervision or restrictions.
Although such latitude and discretion are wonderful privileges, societies built on
these values are also plagued with tragedies similar to what occurred at Columbine
High School. This is the expensive price of freedom. Individuals with known evil
intentions or ideas cannot be restrained until they have actually broken a law--often
by taking away the freedom, rights and sometimes, even lives of others. In this human
construct, individual rights are more important than societal rights.
Other nations of the world consider the ugly side of human rights--violent crimes
and murder of innocent victims--as too high a price for a civilized society to pay.
Although the Western world's financial prosperity is attractive, other nations reject
what they view as excessive freedoms, stating that the stability of society as a
whole has to take precedence over individual human rights. Increased crime and erosion
of moral values are often the unwanted side effects of the Western approach to individual
human rights.
This is why some Islamic countries refer to the United States as the Great Satan
and emphasize societal rights--safety and no fear of crime for their citizens. Such
countries can and do apprehend individuals they believe may have committed a crime
and usually inflict much stiffer punishments for violations of their law. The downside
is that innocent people sometimes are imprisoned and punished. This is the price
their citizens pay when societal rights are more important than individual rights.
So who is right? Almost three thousand years ago, the prophet Jeremiah lamented:
"O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks
to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). Apart from God, man simply doesn't know
how to properly build safe societies. The biblical answer to this clash between human
rights and societal rights is found in Jesus' instruction to "love your neighbor
as yourself" (Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31,33; Luke 10:27).
We are to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. In a truly just society,
individual rights and societal rights need to be considered. No human nation has
ever found this perfect balance, yet there is a coming kingdom that will perfectly
employ both of these concepts. It is called the Kingdom of God and is the truly good
news, the gospel message of the Bible.
Be sure to download or write for your free copy of our
booklets
and The
Road to Eternal Life. They explain how you can become a part of this just
society. Both booklets are available from the office nearest you (see page 2) and
can be viewed in the literature library of our Web site: www.ucg.org.
--David Treybig
© 1999-2022 United Church of God, an International
Association
Related Information:
Sidebar to Terror and Tragedy at Columbine High School
Table of Contents that includes "Individual Rights Vs. Societal Rights"
Origin of article "Individual Rights Vs. Societal Rights"
Keywords: rights moral values love your neighbor
Love of neighbor: