This is http://www.essayz.com/a9401211.htm         
Previous-Essay      <== This-Essay ==>     Following-Essay
Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words.
{Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.}
==========================================================
  %WESTERN RIGHT RESPONSE COMMUNITY INDIVIDUAL FAIL+940121
 %PERSONAL COOPERATION CONSENSUS CONVERGE THINK JOY+940121
 %DICHOTOMY FRAGMENT ANALYZE SPLIT INTEGRITY COHERE 940121

     In the  western traditions it has  become  common  to
think   of  individual  rights  as  pre-existing  in  some
abstract  ideal   realm  ---    to  which appeal   may  be
made   by  isolated  individuals  who  seek  to claim  the
power   to  exercise their isolated   individual   rights.
This  pattern  of   thinking  ignores   the   fact    that
individual rights are of no consequence in  the absence of
coherent    communal  traditions    backed   by   coherent
communal  commitments to honor,  affirm and work for   the
implementation   of  individual  rights.    Such  communal
commitments are rooted in a coherent fabric  of individual
commitments  to cooperate  in   honoring,  affirming   and
working  together  for  the  realization   of   individual
rights.
     In   reality   individual   rights   are   conceived,
nurtured,   and sustained by  the responsible  fulfillment
of creative communal responsibilities.  Individual  rights
are  realized  (made    real)     by    the    fulfillment
of      communal   responsibilities   on  the    part   of
individuals.      Communal responsibilities which  realize
individual   rights   are not imposed  upon    individuals
because     individual's   rights  have     already   been
granted---but   rather    it   is   the   fulfillment   of
communal  responsibilities   by   cooperative  individuals
which creates  individual  rights.     If  the fulfillment
of  communal  responsibilities cease,   individual  rights
decay  and  cease to  be  available to the  collection  of
individuals   who   failed   to  fulfill  their   communal
responsibilities.

     Personal and  communal integrity are  interdependent.
Neither  personal  integrity nor  communal  integrity  can
survive  in  the  absence of the other.   Neither  can  be
advanced  by  the  sacrifice of the  other.    Neither  is
independent of the other.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
==========================================================