The Right to Expression....Love

I declare the Right to Love,

whereby love is both the expression and reception of affection

 for another life being,

human, animal, or plant.

This right encompasses all forms of affection,

of which romantic love is only one kind

of many forms of love.

Photo by art photographer Tim Walker

Love creates a relationship, an interaction with another being.

It is an emotional attitude towards the other,
a strong feeling, more than a simple "like."

It involves respect with affection, a sense of caring.

Like the other "Rights for a Right-full Life",
grace, joy, happiness, pride, play, friendship, gratitude, etc.,
this is not a right that can be enforced by law.
Similarly, the Right to Love is a choice.
And, it is always a choice,
even if the subject of affection rejects or destroys love,
or
even if the subject of affection is of a hideous, repulsive nature
(lesson of the fable Beauty and the Beast).


Beauty and the Beast, 1874 edition, illustration by Walter Crane
Text: "'Beast, drawing the curtains aside, would walk in,
and talk so pleasantly that she soon lost much of her fear of him."


As in all  inter-relational rights which can be applied to all life beings,
this right extends from human-human love
to human-animal love and human-plant love.
Thus, love is always a possibility.

Because love is a choice based on emotion and survival,
we do not, unfortunately, choose to love all other beings.
For example, as a predator species,
how can we love the animals/plants we consume?

Still, the Right to Love has powerful potential
that has yet to be fully realized,
if we forge past our emotions and even our survival needs.

This declaration of the Right to Love, of course,

 bears an oversimplication of the complex idea of love.

Not included in this right

is also self-love (Right to Pride)

and spiritual love (Right to Freedom of Religious Choice, Right to Pray)

since these are covered by these other declared rights.

Revision:  thanks to commenters GLT, T., JE, RR, R.A.T.jr.

The Right to Self-Determination... Choice of Spouse

In many cultures, marriage is family-arranged:

southeast Asian countries, such as India and Pakistan,

the Mideast, and some African countries.

Choice is based on a long list of factors:

religion,

wealth,

vocation,

family reputation,

city of residence,

age,

language,

diet,

and even horoscope.

Importance is placed on carefully thinking and planning this decision.

It is considered an act of love by the family.

The couple meets and,

 if either disagrees with the union,

 it is usually not forced.

Mutual consent is important; there is a choice.

The idea is based on cultural and family tradition---

to think with your head and not your heart.
Arranged marriage is usually not forced  marriage,
where there is no choice.

Marriage à-la-mode : The Marriage Contract  (1743)
painting, William Hogarth, National Gallery, London

In the U.S., European countries, and many other countries,

choice of spouse remains with the individual.

The idea is based on romantic love---

to think with your heart and not your head.

Author Reva Seth combines the best of both in her 2008 book,

First Comes Marriage: Modern Relationship Advice from the Wisdom of Arranged Marriages.

Seth's advice is spouse choice based on romantic love mixed with

the  success of "planned thought" of the arranged marriage model.

Arranged marriages have a shockingly low 5-7% divorce rate,

versus the U.S. non-arranged marriage average of 50%.