"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."
-- Declaration of Independence
"That
all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain
inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety."
-- Virginia Declaration of Rights
I love this idea... that all people, no matter where they come from or who they are have inherent, unalienable rights. It was a great and progressive concept. I think we've come a long way from this sentiment in modern society, however. Not only do we not seem to recognize these rights in ALL people, or even ALL people IN our country, but we don't even recognize them in ALL of our citizens. Where did these simple truths become moot points? When did we decide that only some people in the world have these inherent rights, while others are worthy of bullets and no mercy?
