Editor, Times-Union: The following letter is a new addition to my series of letters to the editor summarizing foundational human rights, which have been printed in the Jan. 10, April 12 and prior editions of the Times-Union letters to the editor page. In those letters I gave a partial summary of the following fundamental liberties: freedom of religion, freedom of self-defense, freedom of thought and inquiry, freedom of dissent, freedom of commerce, freedom of movement and freedom of communication.
This letter will list the summaries of freedom of property ownership, freedom of the media, freedom of self-ownership, freedom of existence, freedom of education and freedom of assembly and association.
Partial summary of foundational human rights continued:
8. Freedom of property ownership – the right to legitimately acquire, possess, use, and dispose of property by oneself or with others and to be free from arbitrary confiscation and undue restrictions.
9. Freedom of the media – the right to use the various means of mass communication as part of a network of independently owned and operated forums dedicated to the diversity of thought, opinion, knowledge, and creativity, the free flow of information, the investigation of corruption, critical analysis of vital issues and the prevention of the monopolization of the mass media sector by the state.
10. Freedom of self-ownership – the right to have possession over one’s mind, body and soul and to be free from slavery, involuntary servitude, torture, and compulsory medical experimentation.
11. Freedom of existence – the right to be free from arbitrary execution, democidal extermination campaigns, infanticide, compulsory abortion and euthanasia.
12. Freedom of education – is the right to teach and/or learn academics, athletics, technical subjects, moral and life lessons, etc. through the means of self-study, homeschooling, secular non-profit and for-profit schools, religious schools, public/community schools, or a combination of the previously mentioned, to enlighten one’s mind or the minds of others; and for each person to be free from the imposition of totalitarianism (i.e. the core beliefs and practices of such notorious regimes as the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Red China, Militarist Japan and Communist North Korea) in the field of education, with its subsequent stifling of intellectual creativity, social progress, and genuine learning imposed on all and future generations who fall under the authority of such a regime.
13. Freedom of assembly and association – the right to peacefully gather with others in public or private for a multitude of reasons or to voluntarily form and/or dissolve informal or formal non-violent political, business, religious and social relationships or organizations with others.
More of my summary to foundational human rights will follow at later dates.
