The Root of All Conflict

The issue of what rights should trump that of others has been the root of conflict over history. In our increasing self-entitled, narcissistic and materialist world, one can be forgiven for thinking that the conflict of rights is an exclusive modern day challenge. The truth is that we only seek our rights before respecting or even acknowledging that of others.

A right is an entitlement that others must respect. A right may be positive, meaning that others must do something for another, such as the right to free contraceptives that are to be funded by the government. On the other hand, a right may be negative, one in which others must not interfere another's liberty. One such example is the right to not be subject to human sacrifice.