Privilege Or Entitlement?

THE THINGS IN LIFE

SN:	WHAT WE WANT/NEED	Feelings: System 1	Feelings: System 2
1	Mother’s Milk	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
2	Father’s Love	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
3	Food, clothing, shelter	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
4	Healthcare – Doctors, Medicine	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
5	Physical Security	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
6	Family Support and Love	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
7	Friends	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
8	School Education	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
9	Fun Activities	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
10	Treats	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
11	Presents	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
12	Higher Education	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
13	Opportunities to apply for interesting work	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
14	A Job or work to earn a living	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
15	Promotion or advancement in job	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
16	Freedom of Enterprise	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
17	Fairness in treatment and dealing	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
18	Respect from others	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
19	Love in life	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
20	Freedom to pursue our happiness	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
21	Freedom of expression	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
22	Safety and security of our possessions	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
23	Support in old age	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
24	A good night’s peaceful sleep	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right
25	Help in an emergency	Grateful for privilege	Entitled to as a Right

Nature fundamentally has everything as only a privilege for all living creatures, even life is a gift. All animals, birds and plants know this truth instinctively and live accordingly. Only humans are different.

Only some humans view any or many of these as Rights. Different human societies have different expectations set for these things between Privilege and Entitlement. The character of those who view these as privileges are different from those that view these as a Right. The more items that are viewed as an entitlement, the weaker and rotten the society becomes. Not to say that human society should not try and provide these but mistaking a privilege for an entitlement is the fatal flaw. We need to constantly remind our children of this.

Have you ever heard of a bird, a fish or an ant sue someone for any rights it is entitled to? It is a privilege to be able to sue for one's rights!!

Copyright © Kannan Narayanamurthy 2019

All rights reserved.