"The Round Table" Discussion Forum

Thank you but I didn’t write it, it’s from our Declaration of Independence. You found “inalienable” because the word “unalienable” is from 1776.  They mean the same.

You don’t seem to speak of rights with the same meanings as American’s have for the word it seems. There is no right to become a doctor, but there is a right to try. I had the right to try to become a doctor, I chose not to for a great many excellent reasons.  There is no right to become anything, no right to be listened to, no right not to be laughed at, no right to eat everyday. You have the right to try and if your talents and circumstances allow, you may become a doctor. Or the President.

“Just or equal entitlements” is not how we view our rights here. Our rights are not ‘entitlements’  from government, they are inherent in the fact of being a human being.  

We fall short of protecting the rights of citizens here often, what matters is that we keep trying and we improve with passing generations. We are moving towards “equality”, even if there are setbacks. Equality is not a state of sameness, it is a state where no one persons rights rise above anothers. Where a person can’t excersize their petty prejudices by paying less, or refusing housing, or charging more based a persons human situation.

“If I don’t pay fairly or equally people can- and maybe should- boycott me, but to force me to  be good and noble?”- If I may point out the difference, it isn’t about you. We don’t care if you are good or noble, we care if you are paying women less than men because of their gender.  We care if you are refusing to rent to someone because of their religion or refusing to sell to someone because of their race. No one has the “right” to do these things to others. Stopping them from such actions isn’t about making them good, but about protecting those whom they would victimize.

Women have a right to equal pay for equal work, as does everyone. Our unalienable rights have nothing to do with morals or social beliefs, they have to do with basic humanity. You have the right to chose your occupation. your lifestyle, and your religion.

Those rights aren’t born in your morality, but in your humanity.

Wow! Very… very romantic expressionism. I didn’t know that you were such a romantic, WobblyJoe. But I slightly disagree with the ideology that “men” are created equal—equal in having been born with the same Rights of “Equality”—equality as in being equally serviceable to any given society. We are different; we were all born with different abilities and/or talents. To me, this “diversity” is what is needed for a functional society. I do not see how a society of clones could be optimally operable.
How well would a hospital function if all medical personal were doctors—without having nurses, house maids, security, etc.?
Now as for having Rights—“just or equal entitlements”—I still believe that we are born into existing situations of “Rights”. As for having “Unalienable Rights” (I had to look that word up—I found “inalienable”)—Rights that cannot be altered, taken away, or given to another (again, your wording, albeit very poetic) seems to be a bit visionary as it has to do with reality. When I was born, my “Rights” were preexistent having nothing to do with my gender, race, or molecular makeup—nor were my prenatal or natal rights stamped and sealed with any “natural” guaranties. Granted, my country does have a constitution that “grants” certain Rights to its citizens—but again, these Rights were and are based on social values and/or morals—all being subject to change, transfer, and/or loss.
If we are talking about “socialism”—of which I am diametrically opposed to—then I see how a society so designed would believe that say, an employer should be obligated to run his or her business according to some political or dogmatic mandate. For example: if a “socialistic” system should obligate its employers to pay all employees, male or female, the same wages, how can it be said with any sense of truth or logic that this is a “Free” society? It may well be an “ethical” society, but it would not be a “Free” society. Under such an “Equalized” society, I could not—in this case, as an employer—decide to pay whomever, whatever I wanted—freely operating my business dealings based on my own moral or ethical values—it would be based on “Unalienable Rights”—the moral ideology of an empowered society or government.
“Should” women—all people—be treated fairly? Yes, indeed—I have no problem accepting and supporting that. What I oppose is for a government, dogma, or Cree to dictate or to impose its philosophies of what is fair and just. If I don’t pay “fairly” or equally, people can—and maybe should—boycott me, but to force me to be “good” and noble?
None of my words or ideas should be taken as a reflection of what my country and or its people believe or support. I stand alone with my ideas—blaming no one else for them. I take full responsibility for my own words. I care not to insist that anyone believe in my words. I ask that each of you decide for yourselves what you believe in and then live according to your words.
I bid all of you a long and happy life.

With respect and honor,

doni

hummm amazing ideas!!

i like this subject
any one else???!!!

dear Mr.Alston thank you liking my comment
you always read them completely and carefully
if you write a book i would pay for that book for sure;)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Rights are not given by Man, they are taken away by Man. Women were born equal, like everyone else. I think that whereever they aren’t treated equally, that is a failure of Man’s responsibility to protect the rights of the weak. 

The reality is not that rights aren’t unalienable, but that men in many places feel free to trample the rights of females amongst them for their own benefit.

For example, in my nation it’s unfortunately common for employers to hire women and then pay them less than men for the same job. The employer gets a cheaper employee and in hard times, the woman gets a job. It still isn’t right though, it’s still a violation of her right to equality and equal pay. Even if she took the job knowing she’d make less. The reality is that her rights are trampled, not that she had no rights.

My opinion.

We talk about equal rights (not “gender” roles) as though we were all born equal, but were we? Now I am not talking about what should be. I am speaking of reality. As I see it, we were all born into the conditions of our various established societies—being as “free” as existing systems of justice and equality are. Once when we have learned what or have gained a perception of how things really ought to be, we can either choose to accept them as they are—opting to change nothing—or we can choose to try and change them.
Now, “Change” can be a long and difficult process in trying to beset upon a society the need or the desire to change—changing to your ideals of what is justice and/or equality.
Taking, for example, from those in power the wielding “equality”—such as men vs women—can and has been a very difficult thing to do—if not seemingly impossible. But some societies have changed—“granting” more rights to its female citizens.
I say “granting” in that it “has been” a reality. I don’t know how it is that in many of the world’s societies it seems that men are in charge of “equality control”—or “EC”, but it is a reality—somehow, in many societies, women have “lost” The Power of Equality”—saying that somewhere in the past, women used to be as equal as men.
So should a woman or women see an injustice in a “man’s world” and would like to see themselves as equally “free” as their male counterparts, then, as I see it, this woman or these women must do whatever it takes to be “granted” this equality—and then to never lose “The Power of Equality” again.
About “gender” roles or “diversity” between sexes—those to me are separate topics.

I think women should be respected as euqually as men.men can do some things women cant do.but women also can do la lot of things men cant do ,so I think women should’t be discrimminated by the society,on the controry,men and women should establish mutual trust,and help each other 

At the Round Table everyone is free to express themselves regardless of gender. However, in society I agree with you. As a man, I am ashamed how some “men” treat women.

Women are the backbone of any society and should refuse not to be mistreated or disrespected. All men had a woman to birth them, therefore, men owe a great gratitude to women.

BillieJean2, if you could right a book on the subject, I could write Part 2 because I am a firm believer in equal rights for women.

There is a joke that says:

“A woman works from sun up to sun down and a man’s work is never done!”

Surely we know that is a joke!

Oh my God
This is one of those questions I can write a book on it…….
Whether you meant round table or not….dear Joanna I must say that: NO they don’t
 but equality is not fair for women they should have  even more for God sake
I’m not feminist but I believe that women should get more attention and respect
Not because I am a woman but because of every other women out there
just imagine that in a situation like war who hurts the must ?
in situation like giving birth to a child who hurts the most?
In situation like breaking up after long time with some one you love who hurts the most?
Which sex is being treated like a toy they can sell it buy it
 they can play with it they can change it or in some case break it?

i dont mean to fight against men im just talking OK?so sorry gentlemen

sure all men are not the same there are good men or women in world

im talking about those people who behave like what i mentioned above

any way it is the way i think and i dont expect every one to think like me

its only a personal idea im sharing with you guys

Joanna, I thought you meant at the Round Table. Is your question concerning society at large?

Maybe they should, but in reality, do they? Not even males share equal rights.

Yes Joanna, and welcome to the Round Table!

Does female have the same right as male do？

Thank you englishteacher24/7 and handwriter both two answers were so helping.

Thanks Teacher, but again, I am not looking for appreciation or acknowledgement. I make these posts only for myself; they help me learn. Should anyone benefit from them—great! But again, that isn’t my motive.

Handwriter, thanks for contributing information on the terms “feel” and “feel like.”

It is beneficial for students to be exposed to various sources of learning English. I’m sure your efforts are appreciated.

And yes, as was previously mentioned, the word “feel” can also be used as a noun, such as the size, shape, or feel (such as texture) of something.

Shsima, this is a very good question, and I’ll try my best to answer it.

“Feel” can be used as a verb or a noun. For example, as a verb consider this sentence: “I can feel the pencil I dropped but I cannot pick it up.”

As a noun: “The train seat had a good feel to it”

“Feel like” is an idiom. An idiom is an expression that usually cannot be defined by the meaning of each individual word.

The idiom “feel like” indicates a desire. Here are a couple of examples:

“I feel like a movie tonight.” or  “I feel like a pizza.”

In your example, it shows the importance of using punctuation marks in written English or tone in spoken English. Your example of “you feel like laughing” cannot be left in that state because a person doesn’t know if you are asking a question or making a statement. For example:

“You feel like laughing?” This is asking a question to someone if they feel like laughing.

“You feel like laughing! This implies that the other person may find something amusing.

In spoken English, the person speaking would increase intonation and tone when speaking this statement.

To answer your question if you can use “feel” without “like” it depends on the statement because they are two different parts of grammar.

This is where experience makes the difference in knowing how to use it.

The key is to: Read, write, speak and think in English at every opportunity.

Good question!

hello everybody

I have problem with this two words “feel” and “feel like”.

what is difference if someone says “you feel like laughing” or ” you feel laughing”? is it correct to use “feel” without “like” ?