NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Consider the following: “We are endowed by the creator the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
I refute this. Bear with me long enough to consider the reasons why.
Life is tenuous at best. At any moment your life may end by any reason, be it fair or foul, or natural, unnatural, through reason or accident.
You could succumb at any time by natural causes such as storm, earthquake, disease, spider-snake bite, choking, falling and virtually any other natural impediment to the continuation of life.
Let’s not forget human error resulting in the loss of life such as car and plane crashes, misdiagnoses of disease, catching a stray bullet (wrong place, wrong time), overdoses or mixing fatal combinations of medicines.
Each person can, and should, do everything possible to mitigate any harm to themselves and others.
Each one should endeavor to prolong their life to the greatest extent possible. And yet, anysuch “right” (life) that can be so arbitrarily and instantly removed without the ability to stop the event could scarcely be called a given right.
There is, ultimately, no means by which that right can be secured or ensured as to its continuation.
Consider the right to liberty. In the study of the history of man, one must conclude that liberty is not a right, but a duty of every person to strive to achieve.
History tells us that liberty is an objective that must be sought, fought for to achieve, and diligently defended and preserved at all costs.
Without the diligence and perseverance, liberty is lost and must then be regained by renewed effort.
“But,” you say, “God has granted us the rights of life and liberty.”
A nonbeliever would say that there is no god. A Bible believer would have to answer to the Book of Genesis, in which it is clearly stated that God, though he created Adam and Eve, took away their right to life and placed the curse of death upon them and theirdescendants (all of humanity).
As to the right of liberty endowed by the creator, we must confront another biblical reality.
I could find nowhere in the Bible a commandment or law that in any way derided or forbade the most immoral and inhuman act of all: slavery.
There are many passages concerning the treatment of slaves by masters, or the obligations of slaves to their masters, or the laws governing the sales and periods and types of bondage. There is no definitive form of “Thou shalt not buy, sell or possess in slavery any other human being, regardless of their color, gender, country of origin, or be they a pagan, heathen or chosen of God.”
As to the pursuit of happiness: OK, I’ll give you that one.
Obviously happiness itself is not considered a “right.” Only the pursuit thereof.
Figure out what makes you happy and then knock yourself out going for it. After all, it’s your right.
DAVID A. VANCE / Rogers
Opinion, Pages 5 on 07/27/2010