Mary Ann Glendon, who
taught law at Harvard before being appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, wrote
an important book called Rights Talk.
In America, we talk endlessly about “rights,” and many political arguments are
over “rights.” But whose “right” is right? Does the conceived child have a
"right to life"? or does the woman have a "right to choose"?
Do people have a right to privacy? or do citizens have a right to safety that
overrides?
Glendon has noticed in our “rights talk” a
disturbing “starkness, legalistic character, exaggerated absoluteness, hyper-individualism,
and a silence with respect to responsibility.” She believes the shrill
insistence on rights has ruined democracy and shortchanged citizenship. Flatly
asserted, “I have this right!” leaves no room for exploration, no room for give
and take. Little wonder debates cannot be resolved and we wind up with
gridlock.
Usually, the notion of “rights” plays out as
“my right,” which is pretty different from me defending “your right,” or those
who have no “rights” at all. Not only do Americans have countless “rights,” but
they curiously have no legal duty to come to the aid of someone in danger.
Rights without responsibilities? God turns all this on its ear and lovingly
suggests we have no rights, but many responsibilities.
Instead of “rights,” the Bible speaks of
“gifts.” There is no “right to life.” Life is a gift, and this may be the
compelling reason we do not have any right to destroy life. I do not have
“rights” over my own body; God has those “rights.” My body is a gift of God, an
instrument to be used in service to God, a temple of God’s Spirit, not a
private domain for me to use as I wish. Christians are given “responsibility” –
which is “response-ability.” God has made us able to respond to God’s gifts.
Responsible people do not gripe or whine so much as they get involved, they do
something. Citizenship is responsibility, and perhaps the Christians could
foster a buoyant hope in America life by simply refusing to play the “rights”
card and instead lead the way in taking responsibility for the good stewardship
of God’s gifts.
Isn't it freeing to think I am not a fist
seizing my rights? but instead I am an open hand, gratefully receiving gifts
from a loving God? Rights are about me; gifts are about us. Rights require law;
gifts require love. Rights build walls; gifts open doors. Rights I cling to;
gifts I share. Rights depend on government; gifts come down from God.
