1) Rights and freedom.
This may be hard to explain or write about but what I want to bring out in this article is that all persons no matter how able they are need to feel and be able to be free to do what they wish like be able to go out when they wish without having to depend on Para Transit that they need to reserve at least 24 hours ahead. Also, any person whatever the so-called social status he or she has needs to have freedom. As of this time, many groups of persons seek to be able to live a decent life without the fear of big governments and big corporations hindering that freedom. It happens that this day, December 10 marks the international day of human rights and will be celebrated by actions everywhere. One thing important to know is that we need to take actions every day to ensure that our freedom and rights are guaranteed and protected by not just by government agencies but also by ourselves as well. As the text in Occupy Ottawa says “The global revolutionary movements of today are the masses returning to culture of direct experience. We’re taking our lives back from the institutions and individuals who’ve been making decisions on our behalf, without our consent.” Obviously to me this means something. All my life I have struggled to safeguard my rights and freedom. Using a wheelchair since birth it’s not so easy but not impossible. Social structures need to be created to safeguard our rights and freedom. Being surrounded by right persons helps a lot, believe me. And this is the case for me. All my life right persons have surrounded me… Right now emotions are coming out. Good emotions…
“We’re taking our lives back from the institutions and individuals who’ve been making decisions on our behalf, without our consent.” That we must take back: our lives. Institutions including governments and individuals don’t owe us nor do they decide on our behalf what’s right or wrong for us. Most of us know what’s right and wrong for ourselves. We are masters of ourselves not others. We are community, civilisation for ourselves. We think for ourselves yes, but we also live in community with individual rights and freedom. Defending our rights and freedom is way up on my list.
Our purpose is to live in harmony with ourselves but also with nature. It is our duty not to take away what has already been given at our birth. We should not take are away nor give back rights and freedom as if we never had them but to let others keep them since their birth. From Occupy Ottawa website: “The day of human rights is to appreciate the fundamental rights meant to be enjoyed by all people. We call on all (who attend Full Moon Masquerade) to embody the spirit of the great centaur, to move out of old comfort zones and into a new sense of strength, purpose and adventure.” As I’m reminded by Sweetheart not to be afraid to express what I’m feeling or need help for some things. I have the right to express my feelings and ask for help. For me my strength, purpose and adventure is keeping and safeguarding my rights and freedom. Also, my strength, purpose and adventure is knowing she and others are there for me but that I’m there for them as well to defend them in safeguarding their rights and freedom.
2) Recognised as persons and not as numbers.
As we were talking about my texts, Sweetheart mentioned numbers referring to numbers of the texts I posted in my blog. I thought she meant persons considered as numbers. She gave me the idea to include something on this issue that is important to talk about in this chapter because we are not numbers but persons. I didn’t even memorise my SIN (as if it was a sin). I told her I didn’t memorise it because I’m not a number nor is she. She isn’t 123 456 789 but Sweetheart, a human person. I memorise persons’ names and phone numbers but not my SIN. The right to be a person and not a number or even several numbers is also fundamental. It is impersonal and to be frank inhuman to be a number. Imagine saying “Hey, 123 456 789 come here.” It doesn’t quite sound right to me. It’s dehumanising a person. I would understand if it were a date of birth with a person’s name but only a number? No. We don’t go around calling people by numbers and I don’t want to write long on the subject. I just want to say that persons should be called by their names in a dignified manner giving them dignity.
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