In a mock anthem titled ‘Know Your Rights,’ tucked away on the Clash’s 1982 album Combat Rock, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and Co. ironically remind listeners of three basic rights and suggest that none of these are in fact properly respected by the powers that be. A mere three rights, they sneeringly conclude, is also clearly far too few. In that far-off age of optimism, forty years ago, people were still naïve enough to believe that there might be many more rights out there waiting for people to enjoy.

Should folk have forgotten, the three basic rights, according to Strummer and Jones, are:

1. the right not to be killed (except by a policeman);
2. the right to ‘food money’ (so long as you behave appropriately);
3. the right to free speech (so long as you choose not to use it).

In a week in which all three of these rights have been egregiously abused on all sides, humanity should hang its head in shame.

Photo by DDP on Unsplash