While I generally agree with you, it’s important to draw the line when these beliefs become dangerous and harmful to others.
If people believe they should wear silly hats because their religion commands them to, they are welcome to. I don’t respect that belief, but I respect their right to hold it.
Refusing to get vaccination for your kids however… I don’t think I have to even respect the right to that belief.
You’re absolutely right that it’s not a black or white line. Vaccinations are a perfect example of that.
I tend to follow the rule of, and I honestly think it’s the prime directive, is “You’re right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins”. You can believe whatever you want, up until it affects others or public safety is involved.
You don’t believe school zones should have a 30km speed limit. Great…more power to you…but you still have to obey the law because it puts others at risk. You freedom is your freedom to believe stupid things, not to act on them.
You don’t believe seatbelts save lives. You’re free to bitch about it private to your family and friends and make their lives miserable with your rants. But you still have to follow the law.
As far as I’m concerned, Vaccines are the same. You’re free to believe they don’t work. But if the preponderance of evidence is against you, and public safety is concerned, you’re right ends with bitching about it. But you still have to do it because it involves the safety of others.
Can you imagine a world where a whole group of people could up and say “We don’t believe it red lights…it’s against our individual rights to not stop at intersections…” ?
The idea of the social contract where whe agree to live with certain limitations and rules in order to keep others safe and enjoy the auspices of things like medical care, infrastructure, stability and the pursuit of happiness, is a long held concept. It’s only in recent years where (especially in the U.S.) it’s been replaced with the attitude of “fuck you as long as I take care of myself.”
While I generally agree with you, it’s important to draw the line when these beliefs become dangerous and harmful to others.
If people believe they should wear silly hats because their religion commands them to, they are welcome to. I don’t respect that belief, but I respect their right to hold it.
Refusing to get vaccination for your kids however… I don’t think I have to even respect the right to that belief.
You’re absolutely right that it’s not a black or white line. Vaccinations are a perfect example of that.
I tend to follow the rule of, and I honestly think it’s the prime directive, is “You’re right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins”. You can believe whatever you want, up until it affects others or public safety is involved.
You don’t believe school zones should have a 30km speed limit. Great…more power to you…but you still have to obey the law because it puts others at risk. You freedom is your freedom to believe stupid things, not to act on them.
You don’t believe seatbelts save lives. You’re free to bitch about it private to your family and friends and make their lives miserable with your rants. But you still have to follow the law.
As far as I’m concerned, Vaccines are the same. You’re free to believe they don’t work. But if the preponderance of evidence is against you, and public safety is concerned, you’re right ends with bitching about it. But you still have to do it because it involves the safety of others.
Can you imagine a world where a whole group of people could up and say “We don’t believe it red lights…it’s against our individual rights to not stop at intersections…” ?
The idea of the social contract where whe agree to live with certain limitations and rules in order to keep others safe and enjoy the auspices of things like medical care, infrastructure, stability and the pursuit of happiness, is a long held concept. It’s only in recent years where (especially in the U.S.) it’s been replaced with the attitude of “fuck you as long as I take care of myself.”