What's Right?

What are our "rights" and which ones do we have? Often we say, " but it's my right to ..." and finish it off with what we think that right is. But is it merely what we think our rights are? Do we have the right to demonstrate and how may we do that? Do we have the right to come and go as we wish? In some countries you may not be able freely to go from one place to another as we do. We have two languages in our country and according to the Charter, we should be able to use and to see either language. This one intrigues me as I see some oddities to do with this right! When it comes to the law and what it may or may not do without permission, we should be well aware of these rights for our own protection. We have fundamental freedoms. Do you know what they are? For example, we talk about our right of free speech but obviously there are limitations. Society and its laws deem that we pay attention to legal matters such as libel and slander for which one can be sued. Sued, yes,  if one has the determination, patience, proof and the price of lawyers to effect that threat. And then there are obscenity laws to protect us from those who interfere with our freedom to enjoy peace on our property. We have the right to sue. But in this country, fortunately, we are not yet "sue happy". Our courts don't favour idle sueing and not too many lawyers are willing to dabble overly long in that pool of dubious murk unless there is direct cause. Other rights are legal ones: those to move or reside in and out of the country, language, multicultural facets, treatment under police law and government and legal topics. Some rights are honed by individual provinces and these vary and are well worth learning what they are in your particular province. Our rights were enacted in 1960 originally but they stand today even though they are open apparently to interpretation. They are broad in terms and often tested in courts when challenged. We have the right to life but not death, for example. These days, there is much controversy surrounding the matter of assisted suicide for those wanting to go, literally, that route. There is discussion on the matter of the rights to having religious schools and their continuing existence. How one is treated by the law is within a set of guidelines and how one is punished and who is to decide that and what the limitations are. In some countries torture and horrendous treatment of prisoners is accepted. Not here. But for the majority of us, our rights, as we know them, on an every day basis, stem from our rather hazy knowledge, that usually is assumed through our pores. It's not a bad idea to take a few minutes to look up your  Canadian Bill of Rights and Freedoms.You might be surprised. Right?