Majority Rule or Minority Rights?

Im not really sure why my computer did this, but if this is posted by scarlettfan, it's Ashlee Lassiter. Now onto my blog.

This past week in class, we have been discussing government. On Thursday, we addressed the issue of majority rule. Is it right for the majority to dictate the lives of the minority? On the other hand, would it be wrong for the minority to get what they want when they clearly do not speak for most citizens?

This brings to mind the issue of the installing footbaths for a muslim minority at a school. The school board voted in favor of the footbaths, but many were against the idea. Personally, I believe that the school board granted this request in the best interest of the students. Prior to the installation of the footbaths, muslim students used the sinks in the bathroom to wash their feet. This was hazardous and unsanitary. The footbaths provided a safe and sanitary area for the muslim students to wash their feet. If the request had been for something that would not have benefitted all, I doubt the school board would have approved it.

As a minority in any setting, should you be forced to settle for what the majority choose? There must be a healthy balance. The minority must not be completely overlooked, but neither must they be granted everything while the majority remains unappeased.


I commented on Ashley H.'s post