If South Africans don’t stand up and speak out for our freedom, no-on else is going to do it for us. For far, far too long South Africans have believed that freedom is something fuzzy, theoretical or abstract – something for other people to care about. Freedom is for the politicians to talk about, the judges tow rite about, and the Constitution to dream about.
This sort of thinking must stop or freedom will die in South Africa.
Freedom is not something airy-fairy – it consists of a collection of real rights that will only be respected if citizens no longer outsource political problem solving to the government and politicians. Rights are demands that citizens must make of those in power – make until those in power listen. Rights are only as real as citizens make them. A right unclaimed by a citizen, is a right ignored by those in power.
Here are 11 rights all South Africans must start making a reality by refusing to give in or budge or compromise when those in power want to limit or weaken freedom!
- You have the right to securely own your home, business, and assets like your pension and savings. No government should have the power to take these from you.
- You have the right to look for work, find a job, and earn a fair income. No government should have the power to take this right from you.
- You have the right to peacefully live and worship according to your faith. No government should have the power to take this from you.
- You have the right to hold your own opinion and to speak it out loud. No government should have the power to silence you.
- You have the right to travel, go to work, go to school, and visit friends and family. No government should have the power to take this right from you.
- You have the right to belong to the communities you choose. No government should have the power to take this from you.
- You have the right to live in a safe society and to protect yourself against crime. No government should have the power to take this from you.
- You and your loved ones have the right to a good education of your choice. No government should have the power to take this from you.
- You have the right to raise your children according to your values and beliefs. No government should have the power to take this from you.
- You have the right to live in a country with laws that are fair and easy to understand. No government should have the power to rule with unfair laws.
- You have the right to be treated fairly, like anyone else, by the law and the courts. No government should have the power to take this right from you.
