by Kelley Gecik

Created on: June 26, 2008

The word "offend" has really changed recently in the past few decades. People now are offended at an offhand comment, a strange look directed in their direction, even advice given to them by a well meaning stranger. Do humans have a right to offend? I'm not sure that it is as much a right as it is a human condition. We offend and become offended. Some people are more easily offended than others, just as some are more prone to colds or crankiness. What offends one person wouldn't bother another. Since there is no rule book that clearly states what is offensive, because we clearly could never come up with commonalities that are shared by all (and if we tried, again, some would be offended at the attempt)than this can't be justly declared a right. A right implies that it can be taken away, much the same way that a parent can suspend their child's use of the car or a teacher can not allow a student to sit in specific seat. If you try to take away a person's right to offend you are, in essense, taking away their ability to express themselves, censoring them and violating a certain American right: the freedom of speech. Trying to take away the right to offend is like trying to stop the wind from blowing or the sun from shining.

Offenses are not always bad things. Offense can be used as a form of entertainment-the conflict within the plots of stories is often some sort of offense, a love triangle, a stolen piece of jewelry. Someone has been offended in one way or another and the rest of the story is about them seeking revenge or finding the cause of the offense. Offense can cause wars, which are ultimitely bad, but have nonetheless changed the face of our world. Mexico was offended when the United States offered them 30 million dollars for portions of California, Texas, Arizona and the like. They refused the offer, thus starting the Mexican-American war. A friend telling you about an affair your spouse is having might initially offend you, but will cause you to take action and seek out the truth for yourself.

Humans must offend. It is part of our nature. It is part of the cycle of life, the cycle of emotions that, as humans, we are bound to feel at one time or another. With offenses scattered here and there abounding, it is impossible to eliminate them or try to lessen their effects. Do humans have the right to offend? I can't believe you asked that.

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