Whether or not making decisions comes easily for you or takes effort, the fact that you can make them for yourself is a testimony of freedom. Being able to sort out the pros and cons and make a utilitarian decision isn’t something everyone enjoys.
You don’t have to look too far to see oppression and what the lack of choice can do. People go to war over the right to decide what’s best for their country, their bodies, and their preferred way to worship. In some countries, gender alone can determine how easy it is to make your own choices.
The ability to choose and the right to do so isn’t as easy for some as it is for others. Where you call home plays a big role in whether or not you have a wide range of choices to make. Many can’t imagine the stifling that happens – preventing men, women, and children from making their own choices.
That’s why it is important to defend someone else’s right to choose. Doing so doesn’t have as much to do with what they choose as it does with their ability to choose it. Being able to choose is the bigger issue.
Why would someone be prevented from making their own choices?
Because of their:
- Gender
- Religion
- Nationality
- Race
- Economic status
- Culture
- And more
Depending on where you live, you may or may not resonate with these limits but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Your ability to choose may not be infringed upon for any of these reasons but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry. Defending the right to choose, even when it doesn’t apply to you, matters.
Here are some practical ways that you can defend someone’s right to choose
Use your voice: Your voice matters. From speaking about how you feel to calling out injustices, your voice can make a difference. Defend someone’s right to choose whether it be through speaking directly about it, writing about it, or using a platform like social media to spread awareness of oppression.
Vote: Voting for laws and lawmakers who support freedoms to choose is a powerful way to help defend someone’s right to choose. Whether you are voting for local, state, or national issues, your vote matters.
Get involved: If you have a heart for an issue or want to solve a problem that oppresses freedoms to choose, get involved. Volunteer, provide economic support, or do something to help expand awareness, and you can make a difference.
Every choice you make is a testimony to your right to choose it. Imagine if that freedom weren’t there. Imagine being told what you can and can’t choose, from your career to the number of children you can have. Being able to choose for yourself is part of what makes life fulfilling and enjoyable. Defend your own right to choose by defending the rights of others as well.
