Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Sir Edward Coke's defense of the Rectum

"De recto." Rectum is a proper and significant word for the right that any hath, and wrong or injury is in French aptly called tort; because injury and wrong is wrested or crooked, being contrary to that which is right and straight. ... And injuria is derived of in and jus, because it is contrary to right .... Section 158b, The First Part of the Institutes of the Laws of England.


I go to hell and gone for a dumb joke, don't I?

But, seriously, it seems to me that Rights (I didn't want to use "scare" quotes) are principles of social interaction which people have fought and won for themselves, which should not be thrown over if we don't want to fight those same battles again.

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