About My Rights…

by David Laylor

The Declaration of Independence reads, “We hold these truths to be self evident (translation: even a complete idiot ought to understand this): 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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” So, the United States Constitution was painstakingly hammered out to that end, followed by the Bill of (individual) Rights. Everything Senator Harris mentioned and more are included in this one declaration. The constitution spells out the powers granted to the government as given by consent of The People (as in We The People).

As Paul said, “I have the right to do anything. But, not everything is beneficial.” When men and women of good conscience stand by in silence while un-beneficial actions are continually committed, and as each generation neglects to teach the next how to temper individual rights with individual responsibilities then total anarchy (chaos) must be the eventual result. And we are closer to that end than we can even imagine.

Embedded video credit PBS News Hour http://pbs.org/newshour

Leave a Comment