Is it important for an individual to know his legal rights?

Legal rights are rights that every citizen of a country enjoys and if denied, one should fight for these in a court of law; however, it varies from country to country, state to state and organisation to organisation. This also implies that the existence of legal rights does not necessarily mean that an individual must access it. Having said that, it is also important for one to have a very thorough understanding of one’s legal rights as without this valuable knowledge one would never know if his/her rights has been violated or if he has been treated with injustice, has been discriminated, bullied or harassed; a state of mind that leads to the most thought-provoking question, “how much knowledge should an individual have about his legal rights?’  

Armed with reliable information regarding your law and legal rights, it is important that you utilise the legal system to protect yourself from further atrocities instead of backing off, feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of the complication and the pressure you may face being an individual, who is battling against an institution, sometimes on your own and at times accompanied by a few supporters. Rising to the occasion is as significant as gaining a wealth of knowledge because remember, “A winner never quits; a quitter never wins.” For those labouring under the misconception that a common man does not stand a chance against the collective influential and for the many silent sufferers who do not voice their voiceless thoughts, you become a hope, a possibility for change and a real-life hero or warrior crusading against evil forces.

Multiculturalism is a simple term that is synonymous with harmony and yet often overlooked due to bigotry. When migrants gamble away everything they have to come to a land of opportunities and become successful, they conveniently forget their obligations to the country, which was instrumental in materialising their dreams. To be bound by one’s own selfish laws and one’s place of origin would not only be a sign of ingratitude but would also be like getting caught up in a “time-warp zone” to whom, “progress never comes … and so we see the culture clash, worship of myth creates/you can’t live in another time, another mental state.”  as pointed out rightly by Komninos Zervos in his poem ‘Kaztellorizo’.

Consequently, no matter to what cultural background or nationality individuals belong, if they are living as residents of Australia they have a right to live a peaceful life without facing unlawful discrimination be it at workplace, neighbourhood or social gatherings. Discrimination in any form assumes the form of bullying or harassment when it is an ongoing occurrence and it would be useful for people to remember, before victimising others, that they would be guilty of violating human rights.

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