French Revolution and the Declaration of 1789

I would agree and say that the rights, or “goods or values,” of humanity are very real, and further say they are a natural right, mostly given by the fact we are self aware. I suppose it could be argued that being self aware is God given, but that’d be a bit too long of a blog topic. I feel as though the idea of rights is an ever-changing body of moral opinion and social control. I suppose it is very similar to the idea of, “with more freedom comes more responsibility.” Morally it seems as though everyone should have equal opportunity and equal “rights,” but it must also be restricted to ensure no one impairs the rights of others. Although brief to leave room for the real topic of the blog, that should somewhat summarize my idea of ever-changing rights.

            In terms of The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, I feel as though this was an incredible step forward. Of course, though, in comparison to the standards of today, the documents and ideals contained a multitude of problems. As stated in the assignment overview, there were problems containing the rights of women, the impoverished, the enslaved, and other factors that collide with contemporary opinion. I, though, would not consider these issues as problems. People, and their subsequent thought, are a complete product of their environment. Obviously, in that environment, both sides of the spectrum will be represented. By that, I mean there will be people on the progressive front of an established environment and the subsequent regressive front. Though, as history has shown, society has been moving in what the overall community views as a progression. At the time of the Declaration of 1789, the steps taken were seen as a huge progressive leap, although in contemporary thought, still thought of as primitive. The same will someday be said of what is happening now with gay marriage and legalization of marijuana. What is seen one day as a huge step in the right(no pun intended) direction is seen later as discriminatory, unfair, and with “problems.” While people read the Declaration of 1789 and while people attempt to analyze the value it contained, one most look at the document in a relative nature to the environment of the time. I am not sure if this blog is what the assignment was looking for, but I feel as though people today have a problem with relativity. Too often do people speak of inhumane practices from hundreds of years ago, unable to wrap their minds around the fact that, hundreds of years ago, those practices were social norms. The Declaration of 1789 is key point in the study of human rights in the modern world, and one that brought huge changes to society around the world, and is continuing to bring changes to society today.