Here are two examples:
John CHOOSES to go out and drink. Driving home, he smacks into Jane causing her to be permanently paralyzed. Through John's bad choice, Jane now has lost her chance to choose to: be a physician, be a mom, dance the night away.
I know what Christians will say: Well, Jane still has the CHOICE about how she will respond to this accident.
I'm not buying into that; her agency was taken away by the foolish CHOICE of another.
And, it's so unfair and harsh....she has lost her AGENCY!!!!!!!!!
Another example:
Tom CHOOSES to contribute to his company's 401K. He faithfully puts in a portion of his hard-earned salary by his own CHOICE. Upon retirement, his company - through many bad business CHOICES - goes bankrupt. Tom's CHOICE of lifestyle is totally curtailed through no fault of his, but by the bad choice of his employers, which was totally out of his hands!
Again, someone will say - nauseatingly cheerfully - but Tom now has the choice on how to respond to this situation.
But, in truth, he has NO CHOICE...he must live in abject poverty through NO CHOICE OF HIS OWN.
Life deals us many blows. And, for some, AGENCY is lost - through no decision they have made, but by the choices others make.
Unfair. Sorrowful. And, very very sad.
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