I am glad I have rights. I firmly believe, however, that rights are not sustainable without responsibilities. I have especially been thinking about human rights in the broadest sense since I interacted with colleagues at a recent leisure studies conference.
Human rights are a huge idea. The contribution that a field like leisure studies that encompasses sports, arts, tourism, and community recreation is worth considering. I am grateful for the rights that I have related to leisure as well as daily living.
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans’ rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States. It specifies that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
Because I have a right does not mean that I must exercise it. The second amendment guarantees me the right to bear arms. However, I do not have to own a gun if I do not want to. Rights enable individuals but they do not require participation. Rights offer freedom to choose. As noted above, however, rights portend responsibilities. If I own a gun, I have the responsibility to make sure it is safely stored and not used to hurt others. One can draw examples from all the other rights in a democratic society.
A was a contributor to the recently updated Charter for Leisure adopted by the World Leisure Organization. Leisure is a human right, which was established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights endorsed by the United Nations in 1948. The articles recognize the right to rest and leisure and the opportunities to participate in the cultural life of the community. With these rights comes the obligation to recreate responsibly doing no harm to self or others. These responsibilities should be widely advocated and practiced.
Leisure has sometimes been debated as a privilege or a reward rather than a right. As a retiree, I see rights in all those ways but also believe everyone should have the right to leisure regardless of their status in society. Nevertheless, rights are a complicated idea and I continue to ponder what they mean.