Human Rights or "Minority Rights"?

In the middle of 2020, one can hardly hear one's own thoughts above the loud, constant noise of aggrieved people carping and caterwauling. "Minority rights" is now the cry of the hour, shouted and broadcast to the exclusion of nearly all else. Every person wants their own set of grievances to be heard, with most people acting as if their particular grievances, whether current or ancient, are the only grievances that should matter. Expressing those grievances, urgently and sometimes violently, has become a new form of daily recreation.

Most of these grievances arise from the narrow manner in which most people view themselves in relation to their fellow humans. They have allowed themselves to be steered into disarray and turned against one another, failing to understand that self-righteous conflict has no use or value in itself, and serves only to strengthen and expand the already unwholesome power of their unseen controllers. "Divide and conquer" is the phrase that quickly comes to mind as being darkly pertinent to our unruly times.

As a result, we are sorely lacking in unity. White people are inclined to see themselves primarily as "white." Black people are inclined to see themselves primarily as "black." Brown, red, and yellow people are inclined to see themselves primarily as "brown," "red," or "yellow." Males are inclined to see themselves primarily as "male." Females are inclined to see themselves primarily as "female." Young people are inclined to see themselves primarily as "young." Old people are inclined to see themselves primarily as "old."

It also follows that conservatives are inclined to see themselves primarily as "conservative." Liberals are inclined to see themselves primarily as "liberal." Jews are inclined to see themselves primarily as "Jews." Christians are inclined to see themselves primarily as "Christian." Muslims are inclined to see themselves primarily as "Muslim." Heterosexuals are inclined to see themselves primarily as "straight." Homosexuals are inclined to see themselves primarily as "gay." Transsexuals are inclined to see themselves primarily as "trans."

No one, it seems, is satisfied to see themselves primarily as human. It is no longer enough to merely be a living, breathing member of the human family, to be one person among billions, worth no more, and worth no less, than any other member. Everyone now considers themselves to be an unfortunate part of a distinct, downtrodden sphere of humanity that is fully entitled to be treated in a special way, even if it has to come at the expense of others whose needs and desires might be every bit as worthy.

Which is preferable, human rights or "minority rights"? The pursuit of "minority rights" is, in actuality, a fraudulent distraction that does far more harm than good. It would be wiser, as well as being more effective and more beneficial to everyone, to promote and establish the general acceptance of human rights: clear, fundamental rights that apply equally to all human beings, regardless of any differences (deep, superficial, or contrived) that separate them. In the end, what matters most is that all people are united by being human.