We all have rights – and obligations.
by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 07/05/2026
Freedoms and Rights. Yes, we all have them. A wonderful thing.
In his 1941 State of the Union address (A hum-dinger IMHO) President Franklin D. Roosevelt championed The "Four Freedoms” as fundamental human rights. These are: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. I would add a fifth freedom as my nod to our general “Pursuit of Happiness”. We get to do what we want, including the pursuit of things frivolous – engaging in pastimes; satisfying our wants and so on. All well and good – in moderation.
(Bungee jumping? Not on my to-do list.)
However, some folks do make poor choices. Such choices can have negative consequences not only for the chooser, but for society as a whole. While society tries to be helpful through public health policies and guidelines, we as individuals have an obligation to play our part. This is the give and take of a free society.
The first order of business once the Constitution was penned – we added Ten Amendments as The Bill of Rights. As comedian George Carlin noted, “They are not The Bill of Privileges, - because privileges can be taken away.”
We do dearly cherish our rights, and many of us are quick to defend our rights in any personal discourse; especially in heated discourse.
That said, I wish the framers of our Constitution also included a companion set of Amendments call ed The Bill of Obligations. Why? Because freedom isn’t free.
When folks hear that phrase they recall the brave souls who gave their last.
However, in this uniquely great country that touts, ‘All Men Are Created Equal’, there are obligations that flow to all of us – equally.
And – as always –
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