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Private Person vs Community Person

Hi: Last column before we leave for AZ. I will do columns from there, but not sure when. G

Sour Grapes and Saddle Sores

George Hirst

Private Person vs Community Person Nov 16,2009

Somewhere I have read that because of the right to privacy we are losing our freedom and our sense of community. I have noticed that a lot of people aren’t interested in what others do and say. Well, not everything, most of us like to hear the bad things others have done because it makes us feel better about ourselves. The loss of freedom is caused by the lack of the practice of interest in others.

Let's take a look at the place of freedom in our world. Freedom gives us the ability to be and do and think freely. Freedom allows us to affirm our personal beliefs. Freedom is found when we move among others, taking interest in who they are and what they do. Freedom is one of the birthrights that citizenship brings to a democratic society.

Let's also look at what community means to our personal life. Community and its provision of fellowship gives a sense of belonging. Community is a body of people who share common cause and are concerned for one another.

And then, there is the order of importance, God, Country, self. There is no doubt in my mind when I realize our finest are fighting for democracy in foreign lands, while we in stateside, wrangle over personal benefits. I have to wonder if we see that in fact our loyalties in practice are in reverse, Self, Country, God. Community is not just a political body, or a town. Community is to be found everywhere in a nation that believes in the rights of all persons or body of persons.

In light of all that, I would have to say that privacy is not guaranteed, it is in fact a privilege. You know, all of a sudden I understand what is meant that the right of privacy not only steals our freedom, it also separates us from our neighbor. Freedom does not give us the right to do what ever we want to do or say. As a private person I can think freely about others' words and deeds; however, I must not declare their lives wrong because I disapprove or disagree. The respect of others' boundaries is important because variety is the spice of our lives. In fact, the community person appreciates differences. Sharing life's experiences and ideas is a mark of a person who believes in community.

The guarantee of Privacy has to do with keeping our name and credentials protected from people who would steal our identity. There, again, understand that it is a protection, we must work at building community so that our land can remain a whole land that is able to move in the interests of all of us. We can be grateful for a land that respects every person but is able to act as a whole in the service of all nations.

Sour Grapes and Saddle Sores
Created by KKris. Last Modification: Sunday 15 of November, 2009 17:11:42 EST by KKris.