Where Do Rights Come From?

Any assertion that rights are granted by the society is a viewpoint not traditionally accepted by American patriots. The Declaration of Independence puts it succinctly: "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

The benefit to humanity of this viewpoint is that since the Creator grants the rights, other humans have no right to take them away; and in instances where conditions have devolved to where the unalienable rights are being denied by one group to another the right of revolt is justifiably exercised by the oppressed group.

Absent the Creator as grantor, the justification for revolt is removed. And absent justification, to what court can you appeal for your right to redress grievances?

To an educated patriot, the idea that government grants us our rights is reprehensible. It is the most dangerous idea of the modern state. It is a statement of tyranny. Those who love freedom, and are willing to defend freedom, cannot abide the ugliness of the concept.