The human-being next to you

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, some of the most basic rights include: freedom of expression and the right to think.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. (Article 19)

Why then, in the midst of so many human needs, did the need to guarantee the right for people to think, have an opinion and express themselves come about?

Because one of the most humiliating things, which makes us feel small, is when our opinion doesn’t count. When nobody wants to know what you think. When the right to speak is denied.

This is deplorable in any situation of society. But one of the worst circumstances where this can happen is in a romantic relationship.

When a husband or wife, fiance, girlfriend/boyfriend, doesn’t allow their partner to express their opinion, they don’t try to understand their point of view even for a minute, even if the other disagrees, the feeling of being shunned psychologically and emotionally by their partner has catastrophic consequences.

The human being by your side, your partner, also has rights, just like you. In an argument you could even be in the right but don’t deny them the basic right to have an opinion, even if it’s different from yours.

Let them speak. Consider that perhaps, who knows, your opinion isn’t the only right one. There is another side to the story. Disagree if you need to disagree. But don’t morally abuse the other person denying them the right to think, have an opinion and express it without being attacked.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire

One of the biggest signs of great intelligence is the ability to appreciate different points of view without having to necessarily change your own.