Responsibility is key to our rights

Two letters in the July 16 Fence Post responded to a July 10th letter mentioning fireworks, freedom, responsibility, and property damage.

Both refer to the concept that rights and responsibility are tied together.

I say just like opposite sides of a coin; you can't have one without the other.

Freedom and liberty can occur only when personal rights are secure.

This is all too often overlooked in today's culture along with the concept of property rights.

But personal rights don't amount to much without private property rights.

Mr. Szatkowski's burned auto loss was caused by someone's reckless use of fireworks which has a primary ingredient of gun powder.

What if the result of that reckless act was someone's eyesight? Gunpowder products are not for the mentally immature to handle.

That person should pay for damages he caused but that's not likely under current conditions.

Kevin Hogendorp's closing thought: "People need to recognize that the freedoms we enjoy and celebrate also come with responsibility" was well stated and should be remembered.

Children need to be taught to respect other people's property rights as well as their personal rights.

Lies, half-truths, sticks and stones often encroach on someone else's rights, but we have laws about their improper use.

We seem too concerned about bruising someone's self esteem or ego with an honest statement while ignoring their legitimate rights.

Paul Tait

Mount Prospect