Salman Rushdie emphasizes that no individual has an inherent right to avoid being offended, a concept he claims is not included in any declaration he is familiar with. He suggests that the responsibility for personal offense lies with the individual, not with others. This perspective reflects a view that offense is a subjective experience that can vary widely among people.

Rushdie further highlights that many things can offend different individuals, indicating that sensitivity to offense is part of the human experience. By asserting that offense is a personal issue, he implies that society should engage in open discourse, even if it risked causing discomfort to some, rather than censoring ideas to avoid offending anyone.