by Kai Deniri

Created on: April 17, 2009

The "right" to offend? Calling it a right is presuming we can all go out and kick babies because it's a free country. The "right to offend" phrase isn't clear. I prefer to accept my complete lack of control over other people's minds, other people's customs, and how other people react to the way I live. We're responsible for our actions, but why should we be responsible for everyone else's reactions? If we're living our lives becoming the best people we can be according to the values we've seen work best for us, others can join us in the journeys or get out of our ways. Anything else is thinking too much about other people - holding your toes out in the path of everything that might step on them. Without offense, no exchange of ideas could take place amongst humans. Uncalled for displays of disrespect, such as urinating on soldiers' graves, are not to be confused with offending. Disrespect comes from your own actions; offense comes from other people's reactions. We can't control other people. Therefore, while humans shouldn't disrespect one another, we certainly do have the right to offend. If there is such a right - in terms I like better, we certainly do have the right to live our lives, and if others choose to take offense, to let that be their problem as long as our lives don't put theirs in danger.

Offense can take so many different forms that every human would need 4 years of, maybe we'd call it, "strategic maneuvering school" if we were all denied this "right" to offend. Offense itself is tricky. Abe Lincoln, no doubt, offended southern slaveowners when he uprooted the traditions of their fathers and issued the Emancipation Proclaimation. People can take offense to not being allowed to torture and enslave other people. People can take offense to just about anything they want. Some people are offended by the simplest observations at one another's differences - we'd either have to keep people in different towns according to whatever status provokes the most offensive differences, or else interact as if everybody is exactly the same in every way. Kind of reeks of Harrison Bergeron. Great minds have caused the greatest offense throughout history - not necessarily to anger anyone, but because great minds have missions and purposes in life, and don't care how many toes are out for them to step on.

Have you ever been a parent? If you don't offend your preschooler about 20 times a day, then she's looking at a future full of trouble. Small children are offended

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