I was troubled by the Dec. 30 article, “2019 about representing rights and voices: Hughes”, not because of the sentiment or content, but because of the use of the terms “rights” and “freedoms”.
My late father, Judge Walder White, always made a point of teaching us that the only “rights” we have are those listed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Everything else is a privilege. Canadians are extremely fortunate to have such a document as part of our constitution and it is so very important that we don’t diminish it in any way. It is easy to use a word like “rights” to rail against things that we feel are unfair or unjust, but by tossing it around for the small things, we forget how important it is for the really big things like fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights, equality rights, official languages of Canada, and minority language educational rights.
The next time you find yourself thinking “I have a right to ...”, you probably don’t. There are also limits to your rights. Another kernel of wisdom from my father was “My right to swing my arm stops at your nose.” We can’t infringe on another person’s rights.
Always remember that as Canadians it is a great privilege to live in a country with a meaningful Charter of Rights and Freedoms and choose your words wisely.
Joanne White, Edmonton
