by Catherine Nickerson

Created on: July 06, 2008

I have a right to travel anywhere on this planet if I am willing to suffer the consequences. No one can take that right away from me. It is an inalienable right. I can travel to the heart of Zimbabwe at any time. I may be murdered when I get there, and I may suffer greatly to get there, but I can not be stopped if I so chose to go.

The idea that I have a right to travel anywhere in the world with ease is a ridiculous notion that is based on an selfish and self centered world view. It is the ease part of the idea that most people just assume to be part of the question. The idea that a person should be able to travel in Israel without the fear of a suicide bomber disregards the suffering of the local people who feel life is so horrible that they would rather die and are determined to take some of those they feel are responsible with them to the other side. If you chose to visit a place that has such suffering, you give up the right of traveling with ease. It is such places as these that people are free to visit. It may be difficult to get there as there may be a mountain of paperwork, not to mention the heat, bugs, dirt, dryness, hunger, and clean toilets. Some places, blocked by governments for example, may even mean you will be shot if you visit. That does not remove my right to visit to if I am willing to die to go there.

A country or group of people have the right to try to stop me as some have argued. A person has the inalienable right to enter my home. However, that person or person will have to suffer whatever consequences may befall them when they visit. So, when we label the right to travel anywhere a "human right" we must be careful not to punish those who feel the need to either stop or discourage travelers from certain areas. They are not removing another person's basic human rights; they are simply exercising their own right to protect what they consider as their property.

The freedom to travel where one chooses and the freedom to protect your space often conflicts as it should. A very important book says that that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. As human beings stuck on a tiny little planet, we need to visit every corner even if that corner is guarded with gun or bombs. But, when we get to those corners, we need to find a way to visit another's home as guest rather than enemies. We need to sit, have some tea and actually talk to each other. We are free to make new friends. The idea of traveling with ease and comfort is the wish of a weak lonely person.

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