The Last Utopia
Samuel Moyn states “Each writer creates his on precursors” (11) in the beginning of chapter 1. My interpretation of Moyn’s arguement is that every theorist and/or writer bases his or her beliefs of what was already known, there is always a foundation in order. But as generations go on, time passes by, society changes and “new” rights are out into place. The Rights of Man, I think, is simpler to break down then human rights. Rights of man are based on the “man” and the property
“he” owns. There aren’t rights for women or slaves. Owning property and social class played heavily on ones rights. One the other hand human rights are the rights for all, protecting both women, not only men, proclaiming people free individuals.
Human rights reflected the protection of a person who obeyed the laws that were put into place to keep the people protected. Ironically even in present day people are mistreated by the government, we struggle just for the rights that seem to be in born, like the government overlooks health insurance. If one doesn’t have access to health insurance because they don’t qualify how are their rights being met? Ones well being, especially in the world we live in today where everything is overly expansive, how can health be something left out of inborn rights?
Protection for the people, innate rights against wrongful and harmful actions are the first thing I think of when I hear human rights. So why are their people fighting for their right to live, Black Lives Matter is a movement that, I’m sure we all heard of, came into action because of the rising numbers of police brutality. White officers have killed hundreds of blacks and no justice has been served, where are their rights? I believe the right of man is clearly being demonstrated here; social class and categorization still exist in this country and all around the world. Moyn states, “If human rights are treated as inborn, or long in preparation, people will not confront the true reasons they have become so powerful today and examine whether those reasons are still persuasive” (12). Maybe human rights aren’t inborn, maybe people struggle with this idea of freedom amongst all because it isn’t a true theory, and it isn’t really adaptable.
